JDtrL  Stoffregn, 


Between  12th  and  13th  Streets 


124  &  126  Fourth  Avenue, 

NEW  YORK. 


....AQUARIST  

IMPORTER  OF 

Fancy  Fish,  All  Glass  Aquaria, 

NATURAL  TUFFSTONE,  ETC. 

Manufacturer  of  Iron,  (Nickel,  Brass  and  Tin  Frame  Aquaria. 

DEALER  IN 

Round  All  Glass  Aquaria; 

Domestic  Oblong  and  Square  All  Glass  Aquaria, 

Fish  Globes,  all  kinds  of  Fish  kept  in  Home  Aquaria. 
Ornaments,  Lizards,  Turtles,  Alligators,  etc. 

A  great  variety  of  Water  Plants  and  a  large  stock 
of  Sea  Shells,  etc. 


THE  LARGEST  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  KIND  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


TEMPORARY  GUIDE 


TO  THE 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM 


PREPARED  BY 

L.  B.  SPENCER 

OF  THE  AQUARIUM  STAFF 


PREFATORY  NOTE. 

Upon  the  transfer  of  the  New  York  Aquarium  from  the 
Department  of  Parks  to  the  New  York  Zoological  Society,  the 
preparation  of  a  new  catalogue  was  commenced. 

The  completion  of  this  catalogue  having  been  delayed,  the 
present  edition  of  the  guide  to  the  Aquarium,  prepared  in  1898 
by  Mr.  L.  B.  Spencer,  has  been  authorized  for  temporary  use. 

C.  H.  TOWNSEND, 

Director. 


QL 

H52 

S  ' 

PREFACE. 

This  guidebook  contains  a  brief  description  of  nearly  all  the 
exhibits  that  now  are  or  have  been  in  the  New  York  Aquarium. 
The  use  of  technical  terms  has  been  intentionally  avoided,  so  that 
the  descriptions  might  be  the  more  easily  understood  by  the  gen- 
eral reader. 

The  species  of  fishes  are  arranged  in  the  same  general  order 
as  they  are  found  in  "A  Check-list  of  the  Fishes  and  Fish -like 
Vertebrates  of  North  and  Middle  America,"  by  David  Starr  Jor- 
dan and  Barton  Warren  Evermann.  The  technical  names,  with 
but  few  exceptions,  are  the  same  as  those  found  in  that  work,  from 
which  also  much  valuable  information  has  been  derived.  I  am 
under  obligations  to  Mr.  Wilbur  K.  Parmelee  for  his  aid  in  identi- 
fying several  species  of  the  turtles.  The  technical  names  of  the 
Invertebrates  are  with  but  few  exceptions  identical  with  those  given 
in  "  Invertebrate  Animals  of  Vineyard  Sound,"  by  Professor 
A.  E.  Verrill.  The  illustrations,  from  which  the  plates  of  single 
fishes  were  made,  were  furnished  by  the  United  States  fish  Com- 
mission. 

L.  B.  SPENCER. 

New  York  Aquarium, 
December,  1898. 

SPECIAL  NOTICE. 
The  various  species  contained  in  the  tanks,  are  numbered  on 
the  left  of  the  name  labels,  to  correspond  with  the  numbers  in  the 
Guide. 


HE  New  York  Aquarium  is  in  Battery  Park,  at 

the  southern  extremity  of  Manhattan  Island,  where  the  waters  of  the 
Hudson  and  of  the  East  river  join  in  New  York  Bay.  The  building 
in  which  the  Aquarium  is  located  was  built  in  1807  by  the  United 
States  government  as  a  fort.  It  was  originally  known  as  the  southwest  battery, 
and  it  stood  upon  rocks  and  made  ground  a  hundred  yards  distant  from  the 
shore,  with  which  it  was  connected  by  means  of  a  drawbridge.  In  the  course 
of  time  the  shoreline  was  carried  out  with  the  result  of  bringing  the  old  fort 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  Park,  as  it  stands  to-day. 

After  the  war  of  181 2  the  southwest  battery  was  called  Castle  Clinton.  In 
1822  the  United  States  ceded  Castle  Clinton  to  the  City  of  New  York;  and  in 
1824  the  city  leased  it  to  private  persons  who  turned  it  into  a  place  of  amuse- 
ment. Hereafter  it  was  known  as  Castle  Garden,  and  under  that  name  it  became 
famous.  It  would  seat  6,000  persons,  and  10,000  could  find  room  in  it.  It  was 
at  one  time  and  another  variously  arranged  and  adorned  according  to  the  use 
to  which  it  was  put,  and  this  included  a  great  variety  of  purposes.  A  summer 
garden,  an  opera  house,  a  theatre,  a  concert  hall,  an  arena  for  equestrian 
performances  and  a  place  for  the  reception  of  distinguished  visitors,  are  some 
of  the  phases  of  its  use. 

Jenny  Lind  sung  in  Castle  Garden  upon  her  arrival  in  this  country  in  1850, 
and  again  before  her  departure  in  1852.  Lafayette  was  received  here  on  his  visit 
to  this  country  in  1824.  President  Jackson  was  received  here  in  1832  ;  President 
Tyler  in  1843,  and  Louis  Kossuth  in  1851. 

In  1855,  Castle  Garden  ceased  to  be  used  for  amusement  purposes.  The 
population  of  the  city,  which,  in  its  earlier  history,  had  been  settled  chiefly  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  Island,  had  now  moved  farther  northward  and  sought  other 
places  of  amusement.  In  that  year  the  building  was  bound  over  to  the  Commis- 
sioners of  Immigration  as  a  place  for  the  reception  of  immigrants.  It  was  used 
for  that  purpose  until  1891,  in  which  year  the  landing  station  for  immigrants 
was  transferred  to  Ellis  Island. 

Castle  Garden  was  then  devoted  to  its  present  use.  The  Aquarium  was 
completed  and  opened  December  10,  1896.  Its  visitors  during  the  first  year 
numbered  1,635,252. 

The  Aquarium  contains  seven  large  pools,  ninety-four  wall  tanks,  four  turtle 
,  tanks,  and  a  considerable  number  of  smaller  glass  tanks,  these  being  all  for  ex- 


4 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


hibition  purposes.  It  has  also  a  large  number  of  tanks  for  reserved  stock  and 
other  aquarium  uses.  The  pools  are  on  the  floor  of  the  Aquarium.  The  great 
central  pool  is  circular  in  form,  thirty-eight  feet  in  diameter  and  six  feet  in 
depth,  is  surrounded  by  six  other  pools,  which  are  oblong  in  shape,  each 
twenty-eight  feet  in  length  and  three  feet  in  depth.  The  wall  tanks  are  in 
tiers,  a  ground  floor  and  a  gallery  tier.  They  vary  in  width  from  three  feet 
to  seven  and  a  half  feet,  the  smaller  tanks  being  on  the  gallery  tier.  All  are 
about  four  feet  in  depth.  On  the  ground  floor  tier  some  of  the  tanks  are  joined 
in  couples,  making  practically  single  tanks  ten  feet  in  length.  The  turtle  tanks, 
which  are  shallow,  are  placed  by  themselves  on  the  gallery  floor  of  the  building, 
opposite  the  entrance. 

The  reserve  tanks,  with  those  used  for  hospital  purposes,  and  those  used 
for  the  keeping  of  small  fishes  and  shrimps,  for  live  food  for  the  larger  fishes,  are 
in  a  wide  corridor  back  of  the  wall  tank,  and  between  them  and  the  outer  wall 
of  the  building.  The  fishes  in  the  wall  tanks  are  fed  and  otherwise  cared  for 
from  the  corridor,  and  the  tanks  are  cleaned  and  looked  after  from  here.  Here 
also  are  the  various  lines  of  pipes  that  are  required  for  the  supply  and  efficient 
operation  of  the  tanks. 

The  pools  on  the  floor  of  the  Aquarium  are  all  supplied  with  salt  water. 
The  wall  tanks  on  the  north  side  of  the  building  are  for  fresh  water  fishes,  those 
on  the  south  side  of  the  building  are  for  salt  water  fishes.  The  pools  and  the 
wall  tanks  are  circulating ;  that  is,  the  water  in  them  is  kept  sweet  by  circula- 
tion. There  is  in  each  a  constant  inflow  of  water,  the  surplus  being  carried  off 
through  an  overflow  pipe.  The  salt  water  used  at  the  Aquarium  is  taken  from 
wells  sunk  under  the  building.  The  made  ground  through  which  it  is  drawn 
serves  as  a  great  natural  filter,  and  it  is  pumped,  without  the  need  of  further 
filtering,  directly  into  the  supply  tanks,  whence  it  is  pumped  to  the  other  tanks. 
The  fresh  water  supply  is  taken  from  the  city's  water  supply.  The  fresh  water 
is  filtered  before  using. 

All  fishes  require  air  for  their  existence,  there  is  air  in  all  living  water.  In 
circulating  aquarium  tanks  the  air  is  being  constantly  renewed  with  the 
inflow  of  water.  If  the  air  in  the  water  is  not  sufficient  for  the  fishes  in  a  tank 
more  may  be  added  to  it  in  various  ways.  There  is  here  provided  compressed 
air,  which  is  carried  to  the  tanks  in  pipes  with  a  separate  opening  at  each  tank. 
In  nature  fishes  seek  colder  or  warmer  waters  at  greater  or  lesser  depths  or  by 
moving  into  other  latitudes.  Here  the  temperature  of  the  water  in  some  of  the 
tanks  may  be  changed  by  artificial  means.  There  is  a  refrigerating  plant  for 
cooling  fresh  water.  This  plant  supplies  water  for  the  tanks  of  such  fishes 
including  trout,  as  require  in  summer  water  cooler  than  obtainable  from  the 
ordinary  source  of  supply.  Trout  would  almost  certainly  die  if  it  were  sought  to 
keep  them  here  through  the  summer  in  water  of  the  high  temperature  at  which 
it  comes  from  the  city  pipes.  In  nature,  at  this  season,  they  would  seek  cool  and 
shady  pools.  With  the  refrigerating  apparatus  it  is  possible  to  keep  the  water 
in  the  tanks  at  any  desired  temperature.  The  tropical  and  sub-tropical  fishes 
would  as  certainly  die  here  on  the  approach  of  winter  in  the  water  of  these  lati- 
tudes. The  salt  water  pumped  from  the  Aquarium's  wells  is  about  five  degrees 
cooler  in  summer,  and  about  five  degrees  warmer  in  winter  than  that  of  the  bay. 
It  is  not  nearly  warm  enough  in  winter,  for  the  fishes  from  Southern  waters. 
For  their  preservation  through  that  season  a  hot  water  plant  is  installed  by  means 
of  which  sea  water  is  heated  and  supplied  to  their  tanks  at  whatever  tempera- 
ture may  be  required. 
.  The  boilers,  supply  tanks,  filters,  and  other  appliances  of  the  operating  plant 


the  new  yo.r::  AQUARIUM  GUIDE  5 


are  on  the  western,  or  seaward  side  of  the  Aquarium.  On  the  park  side  of  the 
building  over  the  entrance,  are  the  offices  of  the  Aquarium,  and  rooms  for 
laboratory  purposes.  Here  are  kept  the  beginnings  of  a  museum  collection,  and 
here,  also,  are  most  of  the  balanced,  or  self-sustaining  tanks. 

The  total  number  of  visitors  for  1S98  was  1.689,471.  a  daily  average  of 
about  5,000.  August  20th  (the  day  of  the  Naval  Parade),  was  the  record  day 
for  the  year,  when  47,360  people  passed  through  the  doors.  During  the  year 
1S97  the  number  of  visitors  was  1,635,252,  54.219  less  than  in  1898,  the  largest 
number  in  one  day  being  21  000,  during  the  time  the  white  whales  were  being 
exhibited.  During  1S99  the  visitors  were  1,841,330,  exceeding  1S9S  by  171.245 ! 
the  largest  attendance  for  one  day  was  37,248,  "Dewey  Day."  The  attendance 
for  1900  was  1,585,584,  for  1901  1,644,856. 

The  Aquarium  is  open  daily,  free,  from  10  a.  m.  to  4  p.  M. 

These  Bronze  Tablets  were  placed  in  the  building-  during  189S: 


This  building  was  transformed 
into  an  aquarium  by  the  Depart- 
ment of  Public  Parks  during  the 
administration  of 

Thomas  F.  Gilroy,  mayor  of 

THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK,  1 893. 

Abraham  B.  Tappen,  President. 
George  C.  Clausen,  Vice-Prest. 
Nathan  Straus,  Commissioner. 
Paul  Dana,  Commissioner. 
Charles  De  Forest  Burns,  Secretary. 


This  building  was  opened  to 
the  public  as  an  aquarium  bythe 
Department  of  Public  Parks,  in 
the  year  1S96,  during  the  admin- 
istration of 

William  L.  Strong,  mayor  of 

THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK. 

Samuel  McMillan,  President. 
S.  V.  R.  Cruger,  Vice-President. 
William  A.  Stiles,  Treasurer. 
Smith  Ely,  Commissioner. 
William  Leary,  Secretary. 


MAMMALS 


^fl     1.  The  Beluga,  or  White  Whale,  Delphinap- 
^Mp'B^pll^^W  terns  cat odon  (Linnaeus). 

^^^JH^^^AFhITE  WHALES  are  quite  numerous  in  the  North 
1   -  Atlantic,  North  Pacific  and  Arctic  Oceans.    Dr.  G. 

M  Brown  Goode  writing  in  1884  of  White  Whales, 

r  says,  "They  abound  in  the  Behringand  Okhotsk  Seas» 

and  ascend  the  Yukon  River,  Alaska,  to  a  distance  of  seven  hundred  miles." 

The  White  Whale  reaches  a  length  of  fifteen  to  twenty-two  feet.  The  young 
whale  is  lead  colored.  At  various  stages  of  its  growth  the  outer  skin,  or  epider- 
mis comes  off,  sometimes  in  large  patches  making  the  surface  look  rough  and 
mottled,  the  skin  being  much  lighter  in  color  after  each  shedding,  or  moulting, 
the  color  of  the  adult  whale  is  cream  white.  The  body  of  the  White  Whale  is 
symmetrical  and  rather  slim.  It  is  a  powerful  swimmer,  the  head  and  mouth 
are  small,  as  are  also  the  fins,  with  the  exception  of  the  caudal  fin  or  tail  which 
is  quite  large,  and  placed  horizontally,  or  crosswise  of  the  body,  instead  of  verti- 
cally and  in  line  with  the  body  as  is  the  case  with  fishes,  enabling  the  whale  to 
rise  quickly  to  the  surface  to  breathe,  and  helping  it  also  to  dive. 

The  blow-hole,  of  the  White  Whale,  which  is  at  the  top  of  the  head  has  a 
valve  at  its  outer  opening,  when  the  whale  rising  to  expel  the  vitiated  air  from 
its  lungs,  reaches  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  valve  rises.  The  whale  expels 
the  air  quickly  and  with  force  sufficient  to  produce  a  sound  that  may  be  heard 
for  some  little  distance.  If  the  top  of  the  head  is  not  entirely  clear  of  the  sur- 
face, the  expulsion  of  air  raises  a  jet  of  spray  a  foot  or  two  high.  Having  taken 
in  a  fresh  supply  of  air  the  whale  closes  the  valve  and  dives  at  once.  It  comes 
to  the  surface  frequently  but  at  irregular  intervals. 

Two  specimens  of  the  White  Whale  that  were  procured  for  the  Aquarium 
at  one  of  the  fisheries  on  the  Saint  Lawrence  River  were  placed  in  the  large 
center  pool  on  the  morning  of  June  5,  1897.  The  larger  of  them,  a  female 
which  was  of  cream  color  and  about  ten  feet  in  length,  was  injured  in  trans- 
portation and  lived  only  five  days.  The  smaller  one,  which  lived  until  July  25, 
1897,  a  male,  was  of  a  light  lead  color,  and  measured  nine  feet  in  length,  this 
whale  was  moulting  when  it  was  received  at  the  Aquarium,  soon  after  it  was 
placed  in  the  pool  large  fragments  of  its  outer  skin  were  found  in  the  water.  In 
a  brief  time  the  shedding  process  was  complete,  and  the  whale  was  then  much 
lighter  in  color  than  before. 

Living  eels  were  supplied  as  food  and  the  whale  spent  a  large  part  of  its 
time  chasing,  and  catching  them.  It  swam  around  the  pool  in  the  same  direc- 
tion as  the  hands  of  a  watch,  and  always  in  that  direction,  never  turning  back- 
ward. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 
2.  West  Indian  Seal.  Monackus  tropicalis  (Gray). 


HIS  species  of  seal  is  rare,  and  but  little  has  been  written 
concerning  its  history  and  habits.  The  Triangles  on 
which  the  West  Indian  Seals  are  found  are  situated  off 
the  coast  of  Yucatan  in  West  Longitude  92°  10'  and 
North  Latitude  210.  The  Spaniards  finding  seals 
therein  1504  killed  all  in  sight.  It  was  believed  at 
■  one  time  that  these  seals  had  been  exterminated,  or 
nearly  so;  but  in  January  1897  a  herd  of  about  thirty 
was  found  at  the  Triangles.  The  seals  were  sunning 
themselves  on  the  rocks,  and  they  were  so  tame  that 
unless  they  were  touched,  they  took  no  notice  of  the  presence  of  men.  Some 
of  the  male  seals  of  this  herd  weighed  eight  hundred  pounds. 

The  West  Indian  Seals  at  the  Aquarium  were  received  June  17,  1897. 
They  show  remarkable  intelligence. 


3.  The  Harbor  Seal.     Phoca  vitulina  (Linn£). 

The  habitat  of  this  species  of  seal  is  very  extended;  it  is  found  in  the  waters 
of  the  Atlantic  along  this  coast  from  New  Jersey,  to  Greenland,  and  on  the 
European  coast  from  Spain  to  the  British  Islands;  along  the  Pacific  coast  of 
this  continent  it  is  found  from  Santa  Barbara  to  Alaska. 

Most  of  the  specimens  exhibited  hereabouts  are  taken  on  the  coast  of 
Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  The  Harbor  Seal  is  said  to  annoy  the  salmon  fish- 
ermen in  some  waters  by  taking  the  fish  from  their  nets;  the  seal  being  fond  of 
salmon.  Dr.  De  Kay,  writing  in  1842,  states  that  the  "common  seal,  or  Sea  Dog  is 
now  comparatively  rare  in  our  [New  York]  waters  though  formerly  very  abund- 
ant." He  adds:  "A  certain  reef  of  rocks  in  the  Harbor  of  New  York  is  called 
Robins'  Reef  from  the  numerous  seals  which  were  accustomed  to  resort  there; 
robin  or  robyn  being  the  name  in  Dutch  for  Seal." 

When  the  seal  dives,  it  closes  its  nostrils  and  ears. 

The  Harbor  Seal  on  exhibition  in  the  Aquarium,  while  sleeping  during  the 
day,  lies  on  the  bottom  of  the  pool,  coming  to  the  surface  for  a  fresh  supply  of 
air  at  intervals  of  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes. 

At  night  it  sleeps  on  the  stone  platform  at  one  end  of  the  pool. 

Its  front  flippers  are  used  by  the  seal  in  moving  itself  about  on  land,  and 
in  climbing  rocks,  as  well  as  in  swimming  ;  with  its  large  and  powerful  hind  flip- 
pers the  seal  propels  itself  through  the  water  at  great  speed.  The  Harbor 
$eal  reaches  a  length  of  four  to  six  feet. 


8  THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


SPECIMEN  TANK  OF  FISH.  (TROUT.) 


FISHES 

4.  Lamprey.    Petromyzon  mar  inns  (Linnaeus). 

When  the  Lamprey's  mouth  is  closed  its  snout  somewhat  resembles  that  of 
the  eel ;  its  open  mouth,  within  which  appear  numerous  concentric  rows  of 
teeth,  serves  as  a  sucking  disk,  by  means  of  which  it  attaches  itself  to  larger 
fishes,  using  its  teeth  to  tear  the  flesh,  and  then  sucking  the  blood.  In  the 
Aquarium,  they  are  often  seen  attached  to  the  side  of  the  tank,  or  to  the  glass. 
Lampreys  are  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  North  America  and  Europe. 

5.  Smooth  Dogfish.    Mustelus  cants  (Mitchill). 

Is  common  in  the  waters  of  this  coast,  West  Indies,  and  Southern  Europe. 
Slender  in  form,  light  gray  in  color,  the  underside  nearly  white.  Its  skin  is 
smoother  than  that  of  any  other  species  of  shark,  whence  its  name. 

6.  Sand  Shark.    Car  char  ias  lit  t  oralis  (Mitchill). 

This  Shark,  which  reaches  a  length  of  six  to  ten  feet,  and  is  very  voracious, 
has  sharp,  irregular  teeth,  which  curve  inward.  It  is  common  on  this  coast. 
It  feeds  upon  squids,  and  crabs  and  other  crustaceans.  Individuals  of  this 
species  have  lived  in  the  pools  of  the  Aquarium  five  months. 

7.  Horned  Dogfish.    Sqnalns  acantluas  (Linnaeus). 

The  skin  of  this  species,  when  properly  prepared  is  often  used  by  fishermen 
for  polishing  metal,  and  for  smoothing  woodwork.  Oil  is  obtained  from  the 
liver.    It  feeds  upon  herring,  and  grows  to  a  length  of  three  feet. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


8.  Common  Skate.    Rata  erinacea  (Mitchill). 

This  species  is  common  on  our  coast,  and  found  from  Maine  to  Virginia. 
The  color  is  light  brown,  with  small  spots  of  dark  brown.  This  Skate  has 
pointed  groups  of  spines  on  portions  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  body,  whence 
the  name  Prickly  Ray,  by  which  it  is  also  known.  The  snout  and  pectorals  are 
blunt  or  rounded. 

9.  Barndoor  Skate.  Rata  lavis  (Mitchill). 

The  Barndoor  Skate  reaches  a  length  of  four  feet.  Its  snout  is  much 
extended  and  quite  sharp.    The  fleshy  parts  of  the  wing  like  pectoral  fins  are 


usea  in  some  localities  for  food.  It  is  said  that  fishermen  on  the  New  Hamp- 
shire coast  salt  for  use  as  food  portions  of  the  body  of  the  Barndoor  Skate. 

10.  Common  Sting  Ray.    Dasyatis  Centura  (Mitchill). 

This  species  attains  a  very  large  size,  its  disk  in  some  cases  measuring 
five  or  six  feet  across.  Wounds  made  by  the  tail  are  painful,  difficult  to  heal, 
and  are  often  dangerous.    Maine  to  Florida. 

11.  Common  Sturgeon.    Acipenser  sturio  (Linnaeus). 

It  reaches  a  length  of  twelve  feet,  and  a  weight  of  six  hundred  pounds.  The 
body  is  armed  with  five  rows  of  bony  piates.  The  snout  of  the  young  Sturgeon  is 
quite  sharp,  but  in  the  adult  blunt. 

The  specimen  in  the  Aquarium  which  was  caught  in  the  Delaware  River 
near  its  mouth,  was  placed  in  the  pool  May  20,  1897.    This  Sturgeon  is  about 


IO 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


eight  feet  in  length.  It  feeds  regularly,  which  is  not  often  the  case  with  so 
large  a  fish  of  this  species  in  captivity. 


Atlantic  Coast,  and  ascends  many  of  the  larger  rivers. 

12.  Short-Nosed  Sturgeon.    Acipenser  brevirostris    (Le  Sueur). 
This  Sturgeon  is  not  plentiful  in  this  vicinity;  it  does  not  grow  large  ;  it  is 

hardy  in  captivity.  The  specimen  on  exhibition  was  caught  in  Gravesend  Bay, 
and  brought  to  the  Aquarium  May  14,  1896. 

13.  Long-Nosed  Gar.    Lepisostetis  osseus  (Linnaeus). 

One  of  the  common  names  in  use  for  this  species  is  Billfish  from  its  ]ong 
slim  snout.  The  vertical  fins,  and  posterior  portions  of  the  body,  are 
marked  with  round  black  spots.  It  is  found  in  the  Great  Lakes  and  larger 
streams  from  Vermont  to  Mexico. 

14.  Mudfish;  Bowfin.    Amia  calva  (Linnaeus). 

It  occurs  in  the  Great  Lakes,  and  the  sluggish  waters  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  This  fish  is  very  tenacious  of  life,  and  is  ex- 
ceedingly voracious,  feeding  upon  frogs,  and  various  kind  of  smaller  fish. 

15.  Spotted  Catfish.  Ictalurus punctatus  (Rafinesque). 

The  body  of  this  species  is  long  and  rather  slender,  the  head  is  narrow, 
caudal  fin  deeply  forked.  The  color  of  upper  part  of  body  is  light  olive,  lower 
part  silvery,  showing  on  the  sides,  dark  spots,  which  on  some  specimens  are 
quite  distinct.  It  is  a  good  food  fish.  It  is  found  in  the  channels  of  the  larger 
streams  of  the  Great  Lakes  region,  and  South  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

16.  White  Cat.    Ameiurus  catus  (Linnaeus). 
The  specimens  in  the  Aquarium  were  brought  from  the 


underside  of  body  nearly  white ;  barbels  on  the  under  jaw  white.  Caudal  con- 
siderably forked.    In  warm  weather  the  white  catfish  is  quite  active. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


1 1 


i7.  Bullhead;  Horned  Pout,   Ameiurus  nebulosus  (Le  3ae^r). 

Very  common ;  is  found  in  ponds  and  streams  from  Ohio  east  to  the  coast* 
and  Maine  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  color  varies  in  specimens  from  different 
localities;  some  are  quite  dark  and  others  are  brownish.  The  caudal  is  not 
forked  in  this  species. 


The  specimens  on  exhibition  were  caught  in  a  small  pool  in  the  Hackensack 
Meadows,  New  Jersey.  When  received  at  the  Aquarium  they  were  orange 
colored ;  exposure  to  strong  light,  with  light  surroundings,  has  caused  the  fish 
to  change  to  a  much  lighter  color. 

19.  Brook  Sucker.    Catostomus  comer sonii  (Lacepede). 

This  species  is  found  in  the  streams,  ponds,  and  lakes  from  Canada  to 
Florida ;  it  is  very  common  and  plentiful.  The  Brook  Sucker  is  the  boy's  fish. 
Boys  catch  it  with  a  hook  occasionally,  and  also  with  a  spear,  but  oftenest 
with  a  snare.    It  reaches  a  length  of  eighteen  inches. 

20.  Chub  Sucker.    Erimyzon  sucetta  (Lacepede). 

A  small  species  of  Sucker,  which  rarely  reaches  a  length  of  twelve  inches. 
The  color  and  markings  vary  with  age.  Found  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and 
eastward. 

21.  Carp.    Cyprinus  carpio  (Linnaeus). 

22.  Mirror  Carp.  Variety. 

23.  Leather  Carp.  Variety. 

The  body  of  the  Scale  Carp  is  usually  covered  with  large  regular  scales. 
The  Mirror  Carp  has  large  irregular  scales,  and  one  side  of  the  body  may  be 
entirely  covered,  while  the  other  side  shows  quite  large  patches  of  bare  skin. 
The  scales  of  the  Leather  Carp  also  are  large  and  irregular,  and  generally  few 


iii  number,  some  specimens  have  only  a  few  scales  on  the  back.  The  Carp 
feeds  upon  both  vegetable  and  animal  food,  it  reaches  a  weight  of  sixty  to  sev- 


18.  Albino  Catfish. 


is  THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


enty  pounds.  It  is  a  native  of  Central  Asia,  whence  it  was  introduced  into 
Europe  and  America. 

24.  Goldfish.    Carrassius  auratus  (Linnaeus). 

There  are  several  varieties  of  Goldfish  exhibited  in  the  Aquarium  ;  some 
are  silvery  white  with  red  spots,  others  are  golden  with  black  blotches,  and  some 
are  termed  uncolored.  The  caudal  fin  or  tail  of  the  goldfish  varies  in  form  in 
the  different  varieties.  There  is  a  goldfish  called  the  triple  tail,  another  known 
as  the  fan  tail,  and  still  another  that  has  a  long,  delicate  drooping  tail. 

25.  Chub;  Fallfish.    Scmotilus  atromaculatus  (Mitchill). 

The  young  Chub  is  light  brown  in  color,  with  a  dark  nearly  black  band  on 
the  sides,  which  disappears  in  the  adult.  The  color  of  the  adult  Chub  is  slate 
above  the  lateral  line,  and  silvery  below  it ;  the  dorsal  fin  has  a  black  spot  at 
its  base  and  front.    The  Aquarium  has  had  specimens  fourteen  inches  in  length. 

26.  Roach;  Golden  Shiner.    Abramis  crysoleucas  (Mitchill). 

The  color  of  this  fish  is  greenish  above  the  lateral  line,  and  silvery  below 
and  sometimes  with  a  golden  tinge,  the  pectoral,  ventral,  anal,  and  occasionally 
the  caudal  fin,  have  a  tinge  of  red.  This  species  is  very  common  in  the  vicinity 
of  New  York  City. 

27.  Pearl  Roach.    Abramis  crysoleucas  Variety. 

The  specimens  on  exhibition  in  the  Aquarium  were  taken  from  the  large 
lake  in  Central  Park,  but  they  are  not  plentiful  there.  The  pectoral  and  dorsal 
fins  are  tipped  with  red,  the  ventral,  anal,  and  caudal  fins  are  of  a  beautiful 
shade  of  vermillion.    The  Pearl  Roach  is  an  exceedingly  handsome  fish. 

28.  Redfln.    Notropis  umbratalis  [f]  (Girard). 

This  species  reaches  a  .ength  of  three  to  four  inches.    The  lower  fins  of 

r  i  ^rC  brick  red'  those  of  the  female  are  somewhat  lighter  in  color.  This 
little  fish  is  found  from  Min  nesota  to  New  York,  and  South  to  Alabama. 

29.  Fresh  Water  Eel.    Anguilla  chryspa  (Rafinesque). 


"is  a  valuable  food  fish,  and  is  found  in  abundance  from  Canada  to  Mexico 
and  East  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Atlantic  Coast. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


i3 


30.  Conger  Eel.    LeptocepJialus  conger  (Linnaeus). 

This  species  of  Eel  reaches  a  length  of  seven  to  eight  feet.  The  Conger 
Eel  will  raise  itself  to  a  vertical  position  in  the  tank,  supporting  itself  upon  the 
rear  part  of  its  body  and  retaining  this  position  for  an  hour  or  more  at  a  time. 

31.  Common  Spotted  Moray.    Lycodontis  moringa  (Cuvier). 

Its  general  color  is  yellowish,  the  body  and  the  dorsal,  and  anal  fins  are 
covered  with  small  black  spots,  the  eyes  are  small,  and  jaws  narrow,  the  snout 
is  rather  sharp.  The  fine  specimens  on  exhibition  in  the  Aquarium  were  taken 
at  Bermuda. 

32.  Hickory  Shad.    Pomolobus  mediocris  (Mitchill). 

The  Hickory  Shad  is  found  on  this  coast  in  the  fall.  It  is  not  highly 
esteemed  as  a  food  fish.  In  several  localities  South  it  is  sold  with  the  herring, 
two  of  the  Hickory  Shad  counting  for  one  herring.  It  reaches  a  length  of 
about  twenty  inches. 


33.  Glut  Herring.    Pomolobns  aestivalis  (Mitchill). 


This  fish  is  found  on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  it  is  not  abundant  northward 
and  is  not  valuable  as  a  food  fish. 


34.  Common  Shad.    Alosa  sap idiss ima  (Wilson). 

The  Shad  is  found  along  the  greater  portion  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  of  the 
United  States,  and  ascends  the  larger  rivers  in  the  spring  to  spawn.  It  reaches 
a  length  of  two  feet. 

35.  Menhaden;  Mossbunkcr.   Brevoortia  tyr annus  (Latrobe). 

This  is  probably  the  most  abundant  species  of  fish  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 
of  the  United  States.  It  is  said  that  the  oil  product  of  the  Menhaden  is  of  more 
importance  than  that  of  any  other  marine  animal.  It  is  of  no  importance  as  a 
food  fish. 

36.  Round  WhitefiSh.    Coregonus  quadr Hater alis  (Richardson). 

The  body  of  this  species  is  rather  long,  and  slim,  and  as  its  name  indicates 
nearly  round.  Its  flavor  is  excellent.  The  specimens  on  exhibition  in  the 
Aquarium  were  taken  from  one  of  the  Adirondack  lakes. 


14 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


37.  Labrador  Whitefish.    Coregonus  labradoricus  (Richardson). 

This  Whitefish  is  found  in  the  cold  clear  lakes  and  streams  of  New  York, 
and  Northern  New  England,  and  in  the  Great  Lakes.    Specimens  have  been 


caught  in  some  New  Hampshire  lakes  weighing  seven  and  a  half  pounds.  This 
fish  is  highly  prized  as  a  food  fish. 

38.  Quinnat  Salmon ;  Columbia  Salmon.  Oncorhynchus  tschawytscha 

(Walbaum) . 

The  Quinnat  Salmon  reaches  a  weight  of  sixty  to  a  hundred  pounds.  It  is 
the  largest  of  the  salmon  family.  The  specimens  in  the  Aquarium,  at  this  writ- 
ing July  30th,  1898,  are  fourteen  months  old  and  measure  seven  inches  in 
length. 

39.  Atlantic  Salmon.    Salmo  salar  (Linnaeus). 


This  species  of  salmon  inhabits  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean.  It  ascends  all 
the  rivers  of  this  country  north  of  Cape  Cod  that  are  suited  to  it,  and  the  rivers 
of  northern  Europe.    It  is  well  known,  and  a  very  highly  esteemed  food  fish. 

40.  Land  Locked  Salmon.    Salmo  salar  sebago  (Girard). 

Its  home  is  in  fresh  water  ponds  and  lakes.  In  the  Aquarium,  however,  it 
thrives  in  salt  water.    It  rarely  exceeds  a  weight  of  twenty  pounds. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


41.  OuananiChe ;  Winninish.  Salmo salar ouananiche  (McCarthy). 
The  Ouananiche  is  considered  by  sportsmen  the  gamiest  of  all  fresh  water 

fish.  It  rarely  reaches  a  weight  of  eight  pounds.  It  is  found  in  Lake  9t.  John, 
the  Saguinay  River  and  neighboring  waters  in  Canada. 

42.  Steelhead.    Salmo  gairdneri  (Richardson). 

The  color  of  the  upper  part  of  the  body  is  olive  green,  the  lower  portion 
silvery,  the  cheek  and  gill  cover  reddish  with  a  bronze  tinge.  The  Steelhead 
reaches  a  weight  of  twenty-two  pounds.  It  is  found  in  the  rivers  of  California, 
and  is  abundant  in  the  Columbia  River,  and  the  streams  farther  north. 

43.  Rainbow  Trout.    Salmo  irideus  (Linnaeus). 

The  Rainbow  Trout  is  easily  recognized  by  the  red  lateral  stripe.  It  is  a 
native  of  the  Pacific  Coast,  but  has  been  propagated,  and  distributed  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  in  several  of  the  states  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  In  the 
Aquarium  it  thrives  in  both  fresh  and  salt  water. 

44.  Brown  Trout.    Salmo  fario  (Linnaeus). 

This  species  is  a  native  of  Northern  Europe,  it  was  introduced  into  the 
United  States,  and  is  being  propagated,  in  some  of  the  Hatcheries  of  this  State. 
The  Brown  Trout  reaches  a  weight  of  twenty-two  pounds. 

45.  Hybrid  Trout.  Salmo  (Hybrid  =  fario  -|-  fontinalis). 

This  Hybrid  is  a  cross  between  the  Brook  Trout,  and  the  Brown  Trout, 
the  color  and  the  markings  make  it  a  very  handsome  fish.  It  is  said  to  be  ex- 
ceedingly gamey,  and  of  fine  flavor.  The  cross  is  not  natural,  but  is  made  artifi- 
cially, and  the  product  is  sterile. 

46.  Lake  Trout;  Salmon  Trout.  Cristivomer  namaycush  (Walbaum). 

This  trout  is  found  in  the  Great  Lakes,  Lake  Champlain,  and  many  other 
smaller  lakes  of  the  United  States,  and  of  British  America.  It  attains  a  weight 


of  50  to  100  pounds.  The  many  different  names  given  to  this  species  are  due 
to  its  great  variation  in  size  and  coloring  in  different  waters. 

4T.  Swiss  Lake  Trout.  Salmo  lemanus  [?] 

A  number  of  specimens  of  this  trout,  measuring  from  two  to  three  inches 
in  length,  were  received  at  the  Aquarium  in  the  month  of  November,  1896;  at 
this  date  August  2,  1898,  the  largest  of  these  specimens  measures  13  inches. 


16  THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


48.  Brook  Trout;  Speckled  Trout   Salvelinus  fontinalis  (Mitchill). 

There  are  many  local  varieties  of  this  species  distinguished  in  size,  shape, 
and  shades  of  color.    The  size  attained  varies  greatly  in  different  regions.  It 


inhabits  clear,  cold  streams,  and  lakes  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  United 
States,  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in  Canada  northward  to  Labrador. 


49.  Smelt,    Osmerus  mordax  (Mitchill). 

This  fish  is  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Virginia  to  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence,  it  also  enters  streams  ;  and  it  is  abundant  in  many  of  the  lakes  of 
New  England,  New  Brunswick,  and  Nova  Scotia.  It  feeds  upon  shrimps  and 
other  small  crustaceans. 

50.  Mud  Minnow.    Umbra  limi  (Kirtland). 

A  small  fish  which  reaches  a  length  of  four  inches.  Inhabits  streams  and 
ditches  with  a  muddy  bottom,  in  fishing  for  them  it  is  often  necessary  to  stir  up 
the  mud  before  drawing  a  seine,  the  fish  hiding  among  the  plants,  and  in  the 
mud. 

51.  Banded-  Pickerel.   Lucius  americana  (Gmelin). 

This  pickerel  reaches  a  length  of  twelve  inches.  Color  olivacious;  the 
sides  with  about  twenty  blackish  bars,  all  fins  are  more  or  less  colored  or 
tinged  with  orange. 

52.  Chain  Pickerel.   Lucius  ret 'iculatus  (LeSueur). 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


The  cheeks  and  gill  covers  are  covered  with  scales.  Color  greenish  varying 
much  in  shade,  the  sides  with  golden  tinge,  and  marked  with  a  network  of  dark 
streaks.    It  reaches  a  length  of  twenty-four  inches. 

53.  Pike.    Lucius  lucius  (Linnaeus). 

Color  olive  green,  handsomely  marked  with  white  or  yellowish  spots. 
Cheeks  covered  with  scales,  upper  part  of  gill  covers  scaly,  the  lower  parts 
bare.  The  Pike  reaches  a  length  of  four  feet.  It  has  a  broad  distribution  on 
both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 

54.  Mascalonge.    Lucius  masquinongy  immaculatu*  (Gerrard). 

This  species  of  fish  is  said  by  the  best  authorities  to  reach  a  weight  of  100 
pounds.  The  upper  parts  of  cheeks,  and  gill  covers  scaly,  the  lower  portions 
bare. 

55.  Killifish;  Mayfish.    Fundulus  majalis  (Walbaum). 

This  killifish  reaches  a  length  of  six  inches.  The  males  have  about  a 
dozen  dark  transverse  bars  on  the  sides  of  body.  The  females  a  variable  num- 
ber-of  longitudinal  dark  stripes,  more  or  less  interrupted  along  the  sides. 

56.  Common  Killifish.    Fundulus  heteroclitus  (Linnaeus). 

The  most  abundant  of  the  killifish,  and  attains  a  length  of  three  to  five 
inches.  It  varies  considerably  in  size,  and  coloration.  The  range  of  this  fish  is 
from  the  coast  of  Maine  to  the  Rio  Grande. 

57.  FreshWatcr  Killifish.    Fundulus  diaphanus  (LeSueur). 

This  fish  attains  a  length  of  four  inches.  It  is  found  in  fresh  water 
streams,  and  lakes  from  Maine  to  Georgia. 

58.  Sheepshead  Lebia.  Cyprinodouvaricgatus(La.c6ipede). 

The  body  of  this  little  fish  is  very  short  and  stout.  Color  of  the  male  is 
olivacious  from  dorsal  fin  forward  above  pectoral  fins  to  head  deep  blue.  The 
female  light  olive,  with  several  dark  bars  on  sides,  dorsal  fin  with  a  black  spot 
near  the  tip  of  the  last  rays. 

59.  Brook  Stickleback.   Eucalia  inconstans  (Kirtland) . 

The  male  is  black  in  the  spring,  the  female  is  light  olive,  and  dotted  with 
very  small  black  spots.  There  are  generally  five  sharp  spines  in  front  of  the 
dorsal  fin.  It  attains  a  length  of  two  and  a  half  inches.  The  male  fish  build 
a  nest  with  water  plants,  in  which  the  female  deposits  the  eggs,  the  male  guard- 
ing them  till  they  hatch,  and  then  continuing  his  watch  over  the  young  fish  until 
they  are  old  enough  to  care  for  themselves. 

60.  Nine-Spined  Stickleback.    Pygosteus pungitius  (Linnaeus). 

The  body  of  this  species  is  very  slender.  It  attains  a  length  of  three  inches. 
This  species  is  widely  distributed. 

61.  Two-Spined  Stickleback.  G aster osteus 
bispinosus  (Walbaum). 

The  upper  part  of  body  is  greenish,  the  lower 
part  silvery,    In  the  spring  the  cheeks,  gill  covers, 


i8 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


and  sides  of  the  body  of  the  male  are  red.  This  species  is  found  in  salt  water. 
It  attains  a  length  of  four  inches. 

62.  Four-Spined  Stickleback.    Apeltes  quadracus  (Mitchill). 

This  species  reaches  a  length  of  two  and  a  half  inches.  The  color  is 
brownish  above  the  lateral  line,  and  mottled  with  a  darker  shade.  The  sides 
silvery. 

63.  Pipefish.  Siphostoma  fuscum  (Storer). 

The  body  is  long  and  very  slender,  as  is  also  the  head  ;  the  snout  short. 
Color  brown,  the  under  side  of  body  quite  light,  the  sides  are  mottled,  fins 
small.    It  feeds  upon  very  small  crustaceans. 

64.  Sea-horse.   Hippocampus  hudsonius  (DeKay). 

The  head  of  this  very  interesting  little  fish  resembles  in  shape  that  of  a 
horse.  Its  tail*  which  is  long  and  tapering,  it  coils  around  seaweed,  and  other 
floating  substances,  and  it  is  often  carried  by  currents  to  great  distances.  The 
male  carries  the  eggs  and  young  in  a  sac  on  the  under  part  of  the  body  at  the 
base  of  the  tail.    The  sea-horse  attains  a  length  of  six  inches. 

65.  Pirate  Perch.    Alphredoderus  say  anus  (Gilliams). 

Its  color  is  dark  olive,  sometimes  nearly  black ;  is  said  to  reach  a  length  of 
five  inches.    It  is  found  from  New  York  coastwise  to  Texas. 

66.  Silverside ;  Spearing:.    Menidia  notata  (Mitchill). 

The  body  is  very  slender.  It  is  greenish  on  the  upper  part  of  body,  the 
sides  being  silvery  ;  it  attains  a  length  of  four  inches.  The  Silverside  is  abund- 
ant on  the  coast  of  Long  Island. 

67.  Striped  Mullet.  Mugil  cephalus  (Linnaeus). 

This  fish  is  very  common  ;  it  is  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod 
to  Florida,  and  is  plentiful  on  our  Southern  Pacific  coast.  It  is  a  food  fisi:  of 
considerable  importance. 

68.  Squirrel  Fish.  Holocentrus  ascensionis  (Osbeck) . 

The  body  of  this  species  is  bright  red,  the  upper  portion  of  the  head  a 
darker  shade,  the  eye  is  large,  and  very  conspicuous.  The  caudal  fin  is  deeply 
forked,  the  upper  lobe  the  longer.  This  fish  is  common  in  the  waters  of  the 
Bermudas  and  West  India  Islands,  and  on  the  coast  of  Florida. 

69.  Banded  Pilot.   Seriola  zonata  (Mitchill). 

The  body  is  bluish  above  the  lateral  line,  and  very  light  below,  and  has 
rive  to  seven  black  vertical  bands.  It  is  often  found  in  company  with  the  shark. 
The  Pilot  fish,  as  it  is  generally  called,  is  found  in  the  seas  of  the  temperate  and 
tropical  regions. 

70.  Amber-fish.   Seriola  lalandi  (Cuvier  and  Valenciennes). 

This  species  reaches  a  length  of  five  feet  or  more.  It  is  an  edible  fish. 
The  Amber-fish  has  been  taken  in  Gravesend  Bay.  It  is  found  off  the  West 
Florida  coast,  about  the  Bermuda  Islands,  and  south  to  Brazil. 


Tropical  Fishes  and  Octopus. 


20 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


21.  Crevalle;  Cavally.    Caranx  hippos  (Linnaeus). 

This  fish  reaches  a  weight  of  twenty  pounds,  the  average  weight,  however, 
being  very  much  less.  It  is  a  good  food  fish.  Color  olivacious  above  lateral 
line,  golden  below.  It  is  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  south  into 
the  tropical  seas,  and  on  the  Pacific  coast  from  the  Gulf  of  California  to  Panama. 

72.  Hard-Tail;  Yellow  Mackerel.  Caranx  crysos  (Mitchill). 

This  species  is  abundant  on  the  Gulf  coast  of  Florida,  Alabama,  and 
Mississippi,  it  is  common  in  the  Bermudas,  and  is  found  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  north  to  Nova  Scotia.  About  Pensacola  it  is  known  as  the  Jurel,  and  is 
there  an  important  food  fish. 

73.  Threadfish.   Alectis  ciliaris  (Bloch). 

The  spines  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  resembling  long  silk-like  threads,  are 
extended  in  continuation,  which  are  often  three  or  four  times  the  length  of  the 
body.  It  is  found  on  both  coasts  of  tropical  America,  and  ranges  north  to  Cape 
Cod. 

74.  Blunt-Nosed  Shiner.    Vomer  setipinnis  (Mitchill). 

A  handsome  fish  with  silvery  sides.  This  species  reaches  a  length  of  ten  or 
twelve  inches,  and  is  an  excellent  food  fish.  It  ranges  the  warm  waters  of  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts,  and  is  a  summer  visitor  along  the  Atlantic  coast 
north  to  Woods  Holl,  Mass. 

75.  Moonfish;  Look-down.   Selene  vomer  (Linnaeus). 

Two  or  more  spines  of  the  dorsal  fin  are  very  much  elongated  as  also  are 
several  of  the  spines  of  the  anal  fin.  It  is  common  on  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
coasts  southward.  The  specimens  in  the  Aquarium  were  taken  in  Gravesend 
Bay. 

76.  Round  Pompano.    TracJiinotus  falcatus  (Linnaeus). 

This  species  ranges  from  Cape  Cod  to  Brazil.  The  young  are  occasionally 
taken  in  Gravesend  Bay.  It  is  held  in  less  esteem  as  a  food  fish  than  the 
Common  Pompano. 

77.  Blue-fish;  Snapper.    Pomatomus  saltatrix  (Linnaeus). 

The  Blue-fish  has  a  wide  range  in  the  Atlantic  and  Indian  Oceans;  and  is 
found  occasionally  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  It  is  valued  highly  as  a  food  fish ; 
it  reaches  a  length  of  three  feet.  It  is  a  voracious  fish,  and  is  very  destructive  to 
other  fishes,  which  it  pursues  for  food. 

78.  Butter-fish.    Rhombus  triacanthus  (Peck). 

This  fish  is  found  from  Maine  to  Florida,  and  is  quite  plentiful  on  our  coast. 
It  is  said  to  reach  a  length  of  ten  inches.    A  food  fish  of  fine  flavor. 

79.  Calico  Bass.    Pomoxis  sparoides  (Lacepede). 

The  Calico  Bass  attains  a  weight  of  one  to  two  pounds.  It  is  an  excellent 
pan  fish;  and  is  a  fish  well  adapted  to  stocking  ponds.  It  is  found  from  New 
Jersey  to  Georgia,  in  the  Great  Lake  region,  and  through  the  Mississippi  and 
Ohio  valleys.  ** 


Peculiar  and  Grotesque  Fishes. 


22 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


80.  Mud  Sunfish.    Acantharcus  pomotis  (Baird). 

The  Mud  Sunfish  is  of  little  value  as  food ;  it  attains  a  length  of  five  or  six 
inches,  and  is  found  from  New  York  to  South  Carolina. 

81.  Rock  Bass;  Red-eye.   Ambloplites  rupestris  (Rafinesque). 

This  species  of  Bass  reaches  a  length  of  ten  to  twelve  inches ;  it  is  a  good 
food  fish.  It  is  found  in  the  lakes  of  Canada,  Vermont,  New  York  and  south 
to  Louisiana. 

82.  Black-banded  Sunfish.  Mcsogonistius  chcetodon  (Baird). 

The  sides  of  this  Sunfish  have  six  or  eight  black  vertical  bars,  the  first  one 
through  the  eye  ;  it  rarely  reaches  a  length  of  over  four  inches.  It  is  found  in 
sluggish  streams  from  New  Jersey  to  Maryland. 

83.  Long-eared  Sunfish.  Lepomis  megalotis  (Rafinesque). 

This  is  a  handsome  Sunfish,  its  color  and  markings  are  delicate  and  ex- 
tremely variable.  This  species  attains  a  length  of  eight  inches.  It  is  found  in 
clear  streams,  and  ranges  from  Minnesota  to  South  Carolina,  and  southwest  to 
the  Rio  Grande. 

84.  Common  Sunfish;  Pumpkin-seed.  Eupomotis gibossus  (Linnaeus). 

A  very  common  but  beautiful  fish,  and  easily  distinguished  from  all  our 
other  sunfishes  by  the  bright  scarlet  mark  on  the  gill  covers.    It  is  abundant  in 


the  streams  and  ponds  of  New  England,  New  York,  in  the  Great  Lake  region, 

and  coastwise  from  Maine  to  Georgia. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


23 


85.  Small-mouthed  Black  Bass.  Micropterus  dolomieu  (Lacepede). 

The  Small-mouthed  Bass  is  considered  by  many  anglers  as  one  of  our 
best  game  fishes.    It  has  an  extended  range,  being  found  from  Lake  Champlain 


to  Manitoba,  and  southward  to  South  Carolina  and  Arkansas.  It  reaches  a 
length  of  fifteen  inches  and  more. 

86.  Large-mouthed  Black  Bass.  Micropterus  salmoides  (Lacepede). 

The  Large-mouthed  Bass  grows  to  a  length  of  eighteen  to  twenty  inches ; 
it  is  less  esteemed  as  a  game  fish  than  the  small-mouthed.  The  young  have  a 
dark  or  nearly  black  stripe  along  the  sides ;  as  the  fish  grows  older  the  stripe 
grows  less  distinct  and  it  may  entirely  disappear.  The  Large-mouthed  Bass  is 
abundant  from  the  Great  Lakes  and  Red  River  of  the  North  to  Florida,  Texas 
and  Mexico. 

87.  Pike  Perch;  Wall-eyed  Pike.  Stizostedion  vitr eum  (Mitchill). 

A  handsome  fish ;  above  the  lateral  line  it  is  of  a  dark  olive  with  a  golden 
tinge  and  beautifully  mottled.    It  attains  a  weight  of  ten  to  twenty  pounds,  and 


is  highly  valued  for  food.  It  ranges  from  the  Great  Lake  region  east  to  Ver- 
mont, New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and  south  to  Georgia  and  Alabama. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


88.  Yellow  Perch.  Perca  flavescens  (Mitchill). 

This  fish  reaches  a  length  of  one  foot ;  with  its  golden  sides,  with  broad 
dark  vertical  bars,  it  is  a  fish  of  handsome  appearance.   Ir  is  found  in  the  Great 


Lakes  and  in  the  smaller  lakes,  and  in  ponds  and  coastwise  streams  from  Nova 
Scotia  to  North  Carolina. 

89.  Striped  Bass;  Rockfish.   Rocctis  lineatus  (Bloch). 

The  Striped  Bass  is  abundant  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States 


from  Maine  to  Florida,  and  ascends  all  rivers  in  the  spring  to  spawn.  It  is  an 
important  game  and  food  fish,  and  attains  a  weight  of  thirty  to  ninety  pounds. 

90-    White  Perch.    Mor one  americana  (Gmelin). 

This  species  is  found  from  South  Carolina  northward  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  of  the  United  States,  and  to  Nova  Scotia,  ascending  streams,  and  it  is 
very  abundant  in  many  fresh  water  ponds.  It  is  an  excellent  pan  fish,  and 
reaches  a  length  of  six  to  fourteen  inches. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


25 


91.  Coney  ;  Butter  Fish.    Bodianits  fulvus  (Linnaeus). 

The  Coney  is  found  in  many  waters ;  its  range  of  color  is  very  great.  It 
reaches  a  length  of  twelve  inches.  It  is  recorded  from  Bermuda,  the  West 
Indies,  Brazil  and  the  Cape  Verde  Islands. 

92.  Grouper;  Hamlet.   Epinephelus  striatus  (Bloch). 

A  characteristic  of  this  fish  is  its  power  suddenly  and  radically  to  change 
its  color.  The  Grouper  attains  a  length  of  four  feet  or  more ;  it  is  an  important 
food  fish.  It  is  very  common  in  the  waters  of  Bermuda  and  Key  West,  and 
the  West  Indies  to  Brazil. 

93.  Spotted  Hind.   Epinephelus  adscensionis  (Osbeck). 

The  Spotted  Hind  is  a  very  handsome  fish  ;  its  color  and  markings  are 
subject  to  great  variations.  The  specimens  in  the  Aquarium  were  taken  in 
Bermuda ;  it  is  also  found  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  in  the  waters  of  the  West 
Indies.  It  attains  a  length  of  two  feet  or  more,  and  is  often  found  in  the 
markets. 

94.  RockfiSh.    Mycteroperca  bonaci  [f]  (Poey). 

This  species  attains  a  length  of  four  to  five  feet,  and  is  known  as  one  of 
the  choicest  of  the  table  fishes  of  Bermuda.  It  is  found  in  the  WTest  Indies  and 
from  Florida  to  Brazil ;  it  is  abundant  about  Key  West. 

95.  Princess  RockfiSh.    Mycteroperca  bonaci  xanthosticta  [f]  (Jor- 

dan and  Swain). 

A  very  handsome  fish.  The  general  color  is  light  olive,  the  head  and  body 
with  dark  spots  either  round  or  oblong,  the  soft  dorsal,  anal,  and  caudal  fins 
with  dark  spots,  the  outer  edges  whitish.  The  specimens  in  the  Aquarium 
were  taken  in  Bermuda.    It  is  found  also  on  the  Snapper  Banks  off  Pensacola. 

96.  Sea  Bass.    Centropristcs  striatus  (Linnaeus). 

The  Sea  Bass  reaches  our  coast  in  the  early  part  of  May,  and  remains 
through  the  summer.    It  is  found  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Ann  to 


26  THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


Florida.  A  food  fish  of  excellent  flavor ;  it  reaches  a  weight  of  three  pounds 
and  more. 

97.  Gray  Snapper.    Neomcenis  griseus  (Linnaeus). 

This  fish  is  abundant  in  the  waters  of  Bermuda;  it  is  distributed  along  the 
southern  Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States  and  south  to  Brazil.  It  attains  a 
length  of  four  feet.    It  is  a  delicious  food  fish. 

98.  Red  Snapper.  Neomcenis  hasiingsi  (Bean). 

The  specimens  in  the  Aquarium  were  taken  in  Bermuda,  where  this  fish  is 
often  called  the  Bermuda  Red  Snapper.  It  is  much  esteemed  as  a  food  fish. 
This  species  attains  a  weight  of  ten  pounds  or  more. 

99.  Spot  Snapper.     Mesoprion    uninotatus  (Cuvier    and  Valen- 

ciennes). 

The  Spot  Snapper  is  easily  recognized  by  an  irregular  dark  spot  on  the  body 
near  the  dorsal  fin,  and  also  by  a  number  of  yellow  stripes  lengthwise  of  the 
body.    It  is  plentiful  in  the  Bermuda  Islands. 

100.  YellOW-tail.    Ocyurus  chrysurus  (Bloch). 

This  fish  has  a  yellow  stripe  along  the  middle  of  the  body  from  the  gill 
cover  to  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin  ;  the  caudal  fin  is  deeply  forked,  and  is  yellow. 
It  is  found  on  the  coast  of  Florida,  in  the  West  Indies,  and  the  Bermuda 
Islands. 

101.  Margate-fish.   Hcemulon  album  (Cuvier  and  Valenciennes). 

The  Margate-fish  is  found  in  the  waters  of  Brazil ;  throughout  the  West 
Indies,  the  Bermuda  Islands,  and  on  the  Gulf  coast  of  Florida.  Jt  attains  the 
length  of  nine  to  eighteen  inches. 

102.  Yellow  Grant.  Hcemulon  sciurus  (Shaw). 

This  fish,  like  the  other  species  of  Grunt,  is  distinguished  by  the  bright  red 
color  of  the  inside  of  the  mouth  and  throat.  It  is  a  food  fish  of  importance.  It 
is  found  in  the  Bermuda  Islands,  and  the  West  Indies  to  Brazil. 

103.  Striped  Grunt.  Hcemulon  elegans  (Cuvier  and  Valenciennes). 

This  is  a  handsome  fish,  the  sides  have  many  horizontal  light  blue  stripes 
edged  with  brown,  the  dorsal  fin  is  light  brown  with  whitish  tip ;  caudal  fin 
brown  with  outer  portion  nearly  white.  It  is  found  at  Key  West,  and  is  plenti- 
ful in  the  Bermuda  Islands. 

104.  Common  Grunt.   Hcemulon plumieri  (Lacepede). 

The  Common  Grunt  is  variable  in  color  and  markings.  The  upper  portion 
of  body  light  brown,  the  lower  portion  lighter  with  bluish  tinge ;  at  times  a  brown 
stripe  is  seen  along  the  lateral  line,  and  another  one  midway  between  that  and 
the  base  of  dorsal  fin.  It  is  found  in  the  Bermuda  Islands,  and  is  abundant 
from  Cape  Hatteras  to  Florida. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


105.  Common  Scup ;  Por^y.  Stcnotomnschrysops (Linnaeus). 

The  Scup  is  found  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  South  Caro- 
lina. It  attains  a  weight  of  two  to  four  pounds.  It  is  a  food  fish  of  good 
flavor. 

106.  Sheepshead.  Archosargus probatocephalus  (Walbaum). 

This  fish  derives  its  name  from  the  resemblance  of  its  profile  and  teeth  to 
those  of  a  sheep.  It  ranges  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  Length  ten  to  twenty- 
inches.    Its  flesh  is  considered  by  many  people  a  delicacy. 


28  THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


10?.  Silver  Bream.    Diplodus  argent ens  (Cuvier  &  Valenciennes). 

The  Silver  Bream,  which  is  easily  identified  by  a  black  spot  on  the  body 
behind  the  dorsal  fin,  attains  a  length  of  six  to  twelve  inches.  It  is  found  in 
waters  of  the  West  Indies,  Florida  and  the  Bermudas,  and  south  to  Argentina. 

108.  Bermuda  Chub.    Kyphosus  sectatrix  (Linnaeus). 

This  fish  is  an  important  food  species  of  Bermuda.  It  is  occasionally 
taken  on  our  coast.  It  is  found  in  the  West  Indies  and  in  the  waters  of  the 
Canary  Islands. 

109.  Common  Weakfish;  Squeteague.  Cynoscion  regalis  (Bloch  and 

Schneider). 


The  Weakfish  ranges  from  Cape  Cod  south  to  Mexico.  It  is  an  important 
food  fish,  and  attains  a  weight  of  ten  pounds.  On  the  southern  coast  it  is 
known  as  the  Sea  Trout. 


110.  Banded  Larimus.   Larimus  fasciatus  (Holbrook). 

Specimens  of  this  species  have  been  taken  in  Gravesend  Bay.  It  is  rare 
north  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  but  is  found  south  to  Galveston,  Texas. 

111.  Silver  Perch.    Bairdiella  chrysura  (Lacepede). 

The  Silver  Perch  does  not  exceed  a  length  of  eleven  inches.  It  is  an  excel- 
lent pan  fish.    This  species  is  found  from  Long  Island  to  Texas. 

112.  Red  Drum  ;  Channel  Bass.    Sciaenops  ocellatus  (Linnaeus). 
The  specimen  in  the  aquarium  was  taken  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey.  It 

ranges  south  to  Texas  where  it  is  very  abundant.  It  attains  a  weight  of  forty 
pounds  and  is  much  esteemed  for  food. 

113.  Spot;  Lafayette.    Leiostomns  xanthurns  (Lacepede). 

The  Spot  is  a  good  pan  fish,  and  attains  a  length  of  six  to  ten  inches.  It  is 
found  along  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States  from  Cape  Cod  to  Texas. 

114.  King  Fish.    Menticirrhus  saxatilis  (Bloch  and  Schneider). 

The  King  Fish  ranges  from  Cape  Ann  to  Florida,  but  is  more  abundant 
northward.    It  is  esteemed  highly  as  a  food  fish. 

115.  Drum.    Pogonias  cromis  (Linnaeus). 

This  fish  reaches  a  weight  of  eighty  pounds.  The  teeth  of  the  Drum  are 
extremely  heavy,  and  the  jaws  so  strong  that  it  crushes  the  shells  of  oysters, 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


which  are  its  favorite  food.  It  is  found  on  the  coast  of  Long  Island  south  to 
Mexico. 

116.  Sergeant  Major ;  CowpilOt.    Abudefdnf  saxattilis  (Linnaeus). 

This  species  rarely  reaches  a  length  of  more  than  six  inches.  It  has  five 
black  bands,  the  spaces  between  them  are  at  times  a  golden  green.  This  fish 
is  found  in  the  waters  of  Bermuda  and  on  both  coasts  of  tropical  America. 

117.  Cunner;  Bergall.    Tautogolabus  adspersns  (Walbaum). 

This  fish  reaches  a  length  of  six  to  twelve  inches.  It  ranges  from  Labrador 
to  New  Jersey ;  abundant  northward.  From  Eastport,  Maine,  to  Boston.' 


118.  Blackfish;  TautOg.    Tautoga  onitis  (Linnaeus). 


The  Tautog  is  found  on  rocky  coasts.  It  is  more  or  less  abundant  from 
New  Brunswick  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina.    It  is  a  food  fish  of  importance. 


119.  HogflSh.    Laclinolaimiis  maximns  (Walbaum). 

This  fish  attains  a  weight  of  twenty  pounds,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  as 
a  table  fish  ;  the  flesh  is  of  excellent  flavor.  The  hogfish  is  found  at  Key  West, 
and  the  waters  of  the  West  Indies,  and  of  the  Bermuda  Islands. 

120.  Lady-fish.    Harpe  rufa  (Linnaeus). 

The  Lady-fish  is  very  handsome  in  color.  At  the  Bermudas  it  is  considered 
an  excellent  food  fish.  This  species  also  occurs  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  in  the 
West  Indies,  at  Key  West,  and  south  to  Brazil. 

121.  Green  Parrot-fish.    Sparisoma  viride  (Bonnaterre) . 

This  fish  is  so  named  because  of  its  resemblance  in  colors  to  the  green 
parrot.  It  is  one  of  the  handsomest  fish  found  in  the  waters  of  the  Bermuda, 
and  the  West  India  Islands. 

122.  Blue  Parrot-fish.    Scams  cceruleus  (Bloch). 

This  is  a  very  beautiful  fish.  The  head  has  irregular  narrow  markings  of 
light  blue,  and  there  are  spots  of  the  same  color  on  the  base  of  each  scale.  The 
specimens  in  the  Aquarium  were  taken  in  the  waters  of  Bermuda. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


123.  Spade-fish.    Chcetodipterus  faber  (Broussonet). 

The  Spade-fish  ranges  from  Cape  Cod  south,  and  is  said  to  be  abundant  on 
the  coast  of  South  Carolina ;  it  is  also  found  on  the  coast  of  Southern  California. 
The  Spade-fish  is  highly  esteemed  as  a  food  fish.  It  attains  a  length  of  eigh- 
teen inches. 

124.  Four  Eyed;  Bride  Fish.   Chceiodon  capistratus  (Linnaeus). 

It  is  named  Four  Eyed  from  the  dark  spots  on  the  body  near  the  tail.  It  is 
found  in  the  sheltered  coves  in  the  waters  of  Bermuda ;  and  is  recorded  from 
the  West  Indies. 

125.  Angel  Fish.    Angelichthys  ciliaris  (Linnaeus). 

This  species  is  found  in  the  West  Indies,  also  in  Key  West,  and  is  abund- 
ant in  the  Bermuda  Islands.  It  attains  a  weight  of  four  pounds.  It  is  most 
delicious  in  flavor,  and  in  the  beauty  of  its  hues  it  far  surpasses  all  the  other 
fishes  of  Bermuda. 

126.  Surge«n-fish.    Tent  his  hepatus  (Linnaeus). 

On  each  side  of  the  body  near  the  base  of  the  tail  is  a  longitudinal  groove 
which  contains  a  sharp  lancet-like  spine ;  the  fish  thrusts  these  spines  out  at 
nearly  right  angles  to  the  body ;  other  fish  are  liable  to  injury  from  them.  It  is 
found  on  the  coasts  of  South  Carolina  to  Florida,  the  West  Indies,  and  in  the 
waters  of  Bermuda. 

127.  Trigger-fish;  Turbot.    Balistes  carolinensis  (Gmelin). 

The  Trigger-fish  is  often  seen  swimming  on  its  side  near  the  surface  of  the 
water.  It  is  taken  occasionally  on  our  coast,  south  to  Tortugas ;  and  at  the 
Bermuda  Islands,  where  it  is  a  food  fish  of  importance. 

128.  File-fish.    Monacanthus  liispidns  (Linnaeus). 

This  species  ranges  from  Cape  Cod  south  to  Florida,  the  West  Indies, 
and  the  Bermuda  Islands.    The  File-fish  swims  with  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins. 

129.  Orange  Filefish.    Alutera  schoepfii  (Walbaum). 

The  Orange  Filefish  is  found  during  the  warm  season  north  to  Cape  Cod,, 
and  ranges  south  to  Florida.  The  young  of  this  species  have  several  dark 
stripes  and  blotches  on  the  sides. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


130.  Trunk  Fish;  Triangular  Fish.  Lactophrys  trigonus  (Linnaeus). 

A  fish  of  very  peculiar  shape ;  being  triangular  in  form.  Its  body  is  covered 
with  a  hard  case  or  shell.  The  Trunk  fish  attains  a  length  of  eight  inches.  It 
is  found  in  Bermuda,  and  from  Key  West  northward  to  Massachusetts. 

131.  Cowflsh.    Lactophrys  tricornis  (Linnaeus). 

The  Cowfish  has  two  horn-like  spines  just  above  the  eyes.  It  attains  a 
length  of  twenty  inches.  This  species  is  found  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  south  to 
Texas,  eastward  to  Guinea,  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  in  the  waters  of 
Bermuda. 

132.  Rabbit-fish.    LagocepJialus  Icevigatus  (Linnaeus). 

The  Rabbit-fish  is  occasionally  taken  from  Cape  Hatteras  north  to  Cape 
Cod.    It  attains  a  weight  of  five  to  six  pounds. 

133.  Puffer;  Swell-fish.  Spheroides  maculatus  (Bloch  &  Schneider). 

This  species  is  taken  from  Cape  Ann  to  Florida ;  the  young  and  adult  fish 
are  plentiful  in  Gravesend  Bay  during  warm  weather.  The  puffer  is  able  to  in- 
flate itself  with  air,  taking  the  form  of  a  ball,  whence  its  name. 

134.  Spiny  Box  Fish.    Chilomycterus  choepfii  (Walbaum). 

The  surface  of  the  body  is  covered  with  short  spines.  It  is  found  from 
Cape  Cod  to  the  West  Indies. 

135.  Millers-Thumb.    Uranidea  gracilis  (Heckel). 

A  peculiar  little  fish,  with  a  habit  of  hiding  under  stones  and  burrowing  in 
sand  or  gravel  on  the  bottom.  It  is  found  in  the  streams  of  New  England  and 
New  York. 

136.  Mitchills  Sculpin.    Acanthocottus  ceneus  (Mitchill). 

This  species  is  known  on  this  coast  by  fishermen  as  the  Pigmy  Sculpin 
from  its  small  size.  The  eggs  of  this  fish  have  a  beautiful  green  color.  It  is 
recorded  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy  to  New  York. 

13f.  Sculpin;  Hacklehead.   AcantJwcottus  octodecimspinosus  (Mit- 
chill). 

This  Sculpin  is  abundant  from  Labrador  to  Virginia.  It  is  of  little  econ- 
omic value,  fishermen  often  use  this  species  for  lobster  bait. 

138.  Sea  Raven.    Hemitriptcr us  amcricanus  (Gmelin). 

The  colors  of  the  Sea  Raven  vary  greatly  ;  some  are  orange  with  dark 
blotches;  others  are  brick  red  with  dark  markings.  This  fish  ranges  from 
Chesapeake  Bay  northward  to  Nova  Scotia. 

139.  Lumpfish.    Cyclopterus  lumpus  (Linnaeus). 

This  fish  is  widely  distributed,  ranging  from  the  Chesapeake  Bay  to 
Greenland,  and  it  is  found  on  the  coast  of  France.  It  has  a  peculiar  suctorial 
organ  on  the  underside  of  the  body  enabling  it  to  cling  to  rocks  and  shells. 

140.  Toadfish.    Opsanus  tan  (Linnaeus). 

The  Toadfish  has  a  broad  head  and  large  mouth,  which  it  uses  in  making  a 
burrow  under  rocks  or  stones  ;  it  takes  a  quantity  of  gravel  in  the  mouth,  swim- 
ming with  it  to  a  little  distance,  depositing  there  and  repeating  the  operation 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


until  the  burrow  is  large  enough  to  receive  its  body.  This  fish  ranges  from 
Massachusetts  to  Florida. 

141.  Mutton-fish;  Eel  Pout.    Zoarces  agnillaris  (Peck). 

In  the  shape  of  its  body  and  fins  the  mutton-fish  resembles  the  eel;  its 
head  is  larger.  Its  flesh  is  like  mutton  in  flavor.  It  is  found  from  Delaware  to 
Labrador. 

142.  Sea  Robin;  Gurnard.    Pr ionotus  carolinus  (Linnaeus). 

This  species  is  the  earliest  of  the  Sea  Robin  to  arrive  on  this  coast  in  the 
Spring.  The  pectoral  fins,  or  wings,  as  these  fins  are  commonly  called  by  fish- 
ermen, are  very  large  and  beautiful  in  color.  It  ranges  from  Cape  Ann  to  South 
Carolina. 

143.  Red-winged  Sea  Robin.    Prionotus  strigatus   (Cuvier  and 

Valenciennes). 

The  Red-winged  Sea  Robin  is  so  named  from  the  beautiful  bright  colors  of 
its  pectoral  fins ;  these  fins  resemble  the  butterfly  wings  in  color  and  markings. 
It  is  found  from  Cape  Cod  to  Virginia. 

144.  Striped  Sea  Robin.    Prionotus  evolans  (Linnaeus). 

This  species  is  easily  distinguished  by  the  dark  stripes  along  the  sides  and 
the  very  long  wings.    In  some  localities  the  Sea  Robin  is  used  for  food. 

145.  Remora.    Echencis  naucr cites  (Linnaeus). 

The  Remora  has  a  flattened  oval  surface  on  the  top  of  the  head,  composed 
of  a  number  of  transverse  cartilaginous  plates,  constituting  a  sucking  disk,  which 
enables  it  to  attach  itself  to  the  under  side  of  larger  fishes.  It  is  found  in  the 
warm  waters  of  the  Pacific  north  to  San  Francisco  and  in  the  Atlantic  north  to 
Cape  Cod. 

146.  Whiting.    Merluccius  bilinearis  (Mitchill). 

This  species  is  found  from  New  Jersey  north  to  the  Gulf  of  Saint  Lawrence 
In  the  vicinity  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy  this  fish  is  called  Silver  Hake. 

147.  Tom  Cod.    Microgadus  tomcod  (Walbaum). 

The  Tom  Cod  ranges  from  Virginia  to  Labrador.  In  several  places  on  the 
coast  it  is  known  as  the  Frost-fish.  In  the  early  part  of  winter  it  approaches 
the  shores,  and  ascends  the  rivers  for  the  purpose  of  spawning.  The  Tom  Cod 
is  highly  esteemed  as  a  food  fish. 

148.  Cod.    Gadus  callarias  (Linnaeus). 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


33 


The  Codfish  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  the  food  fishes.  It  is  found  in 
the  North  Atlantic  south  to  Virginia ;  it  is  abundant  on  the  coast  of  New  Eng- 
land and  New  Foundland,  The  size  of  the  Cod  varies  greatly  in  different 
waters,  ranging  in  weight  from  three  or  four  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds. 

149.  Burbot  ;  Lawyer.    Lota  maculosa  (Le  Sueur). 

There  is  a  diversity  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the  use  of  the  Burbot  as  a  food 
fish;  in  some  regions  it  is  eaten  and  in  others  not.  It  is  found  in  New  York, 
New  England,  Canada,  and  the  Columbia  River  Basin. 

150.  Spotted  Codling.    Phycis  regius  (Walbaum). 

This  species  is  found  in  the  North  Atlantic  south  to  North  Carolina.  It  is 
said  to  be  abundant  in  Chesapeake  Bay. 

151.  Hake.    Phycis  tenuis  (Mitchill). 

Great  quantities  of  the  Hake  are  taken  on  the  coast  of  Massachusetts,  and 
it  is  abundant  northward.  It  is  salted  and  dried  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
Cod. 

152.  Fluke;  Flounder.    Paralicthys  dentatus  (Linnaeus). 


This  species  attains  a  length  of  sixteen  to  thirty  inches.  It  is  an  important 
food  fish.  It  ranges  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  Several  local  names  are  applied 
to  this  fish,  among  them  are  Summer  Flounder  and  Plaice. 

153.  Flatfish.    Pseadopleuronectes  americana  (Walbaum). 

This  species  is  also  called  Winter  Flounder.  It  reaches  a  length  of  fifteen 
inches.  The  flesh  of  this  fish  is  of  excellent  flavor.  It  is  found  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  of  the  United  States  from  Chesapeake  Bay  to  Labrador. 

154.  American  Sole.    Ac  hints  fasciatus  (Lacepede). 

The  American  Sole  is  of  no  importance  as  an  article  of  food.  In  the  aquar- 
ium it  is  often  seen  clinging  to  the  glass  or  side  of  the  tank.  This  fish  is  found 
from  Boston  to  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  River. 


34 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


155,  Angler;  Goosefish.    Lophius piscatorius  (Linnaeus). 

This  grotesque  appearing  fish  is  found  on  both  coasts  of  the  North  Atlantic 
It  feeds  upon  fish  of  various  kinds.  In  a  tank  in  the  .aquarium  an  Angler  has 
attempted  to  swallow  one  of  its  own  kind  nearly  two-thirds  its  size. 

156,  Climbing:  Perch.   Anabas  scandens  (Cuvier). 

This  fish  is  remarkable  for  its  power  of  living  a  long  time  out  of  water, 
and  making  its  way  on  land  for  considerable  distances.  It  is  found  in  the  fresh 
waters  of  Cochin  China. 

157,  Gourami.    Asphromenus  cantoris. 

A  small  fresh  water  fish  from  the  East  Indies.  A  peculiarity  of  this  fish  is 
found  in  two  delicate  thread-like  appendages  attached  to  the  under  side  of  the 
throat  and  extending  back  to  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin. 

158-  Tench.     Tinea  tinea  (Linnaeus). 

159  Gold  Tench.  Variety. 

The  Tench  is  a  European  fish.  It  was  introduced  into  the  United  States. 
The  habits  of  the  Tench  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Carp.  It  is  an  exceedingly 
hardy  fish. 

The  Gold  Tench  is  probably  a  variety,  not  a  separate  species  ;  its  variations 
in  color  being  apparently  the  only  difference. 

160.  Golden  Ide.    Idus  idus  (Linnaeus). 

This  fish  is  a  native  of  Europe.  It  has  not  as  yet  become  well  establishes 
in  any  part  of  the  United  States. 

REPTILES. 

161.  Hawksbill  Turtle.    Eretmochelys  imbricata  (Linnaeus). 

This  turtle  derives  its  name  from  the  hawk-like  shape  of  its  beak.  It  is  val- 
uable for  the  plates  or  scales  which  cover  its  shell ;  these  plates  form  the  tortoise 
shell  of  commerce.  When  the  turtle  reaches  a  weight  of  one  hundred  pounds 
the  plates  are  of  suitable  size  and  thickness  to  be  used  in  the  arts. 


The  Hawksbill  Turtle  is  found  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  among  the  West 
Indies,  and  south  to  Brazil. 

162.  Green  Turtle.    Chelonia  virgata  (Schweigger). 

The  larger  specimen  of  Green  Turtle  in  the  Aquarium  was  taken  in  the 
Pacific  Ocean  off  the  west  coast  of  Borneo.  It  attains  a  weight  of  six  to  eight 
hundred  pounds ;  the  flesh  is  an  excellent  article  of  food. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE  35 


163.  Soft-Shell  Turtle.    Aspidoncctcs  spinifer  (Le  Sueur). 

This  species  is  found  in  the  northern  and  middle  tributaries  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  in  the  Great  Lakes.  Its  flesh  is  considered  a  delicate  article  of  food  in 
the  regions  where  it  is  found.    The  margin  of  the  shell  is  cartilaginous. 

164.  Snapping  Turtle.    Chelydra  serpentina  (Linnaeus). 

A  widely  distributed  species,  being  found  in  the  greater  portion  of  the 
United  States.  It  reaches  a  weight  of  fifteen  to  thirty  pounds,  and  is  esteemed 
as  food.  This  turtle  feeds  upon  fishes,  frogs,  and  makes  incursions  on  the  land, 
where  it  catches  for  food  small  chickens  and  turkeys. 

165.  Musk  Turtle.    Aromochelys  odorata  (Latraille). 

The  length  of  the  shell  of  this  turtle  is  three  to  four  inches.  It  emits  a  very 
disagreeable  odor,  which  prevents  its  being  used  for  food.  It  is  distributed  over 
a  large  part  of  the  United  States. 

166.  Slider  Terrapin.   Pseudemys  rugosa  (Shaw). 

This  is  one  of  the  Fresh-water  Terrapins,  and  inhabits  marshy  localities. 
It  ranges  from  New  York  south  to  the  streams  emptying  into  Chesapeake  Bay. 
It  is  used  for  food. 

167.  Geographical  Terrapin.    Malacoclemmys  geograp/ikus  (Le 

Sueur) . 

This  species  of  Terrapin  is  not  common.  The  color  of  upper  shell  is  dark 
olive  brown,  with  greenish  and  yellowish  markings.  It  is  found  in  New  York 
and  New  Jersey.    The  specimens  in  the  Aquarium  were  taken  in  Ohio. 

168.  Diamond-back  Terrapin.  Malacoclemmys  palustris  (Gmelin). 

This  species  is  found  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  Nantucket  to  Texas, 
most  abundantly  on  the  coasts  of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  the  Carolinas.  It 
inhabits  the  salt  marshes  near  the  coast.  The  Diamond-back  is  highly  esteemed 
for  food. 

169.  Pond  Turtle.  Chrysemys pkta  (Herman). 

The  shell  of  the  Pond  Turtle  reaches  a  length  of  six  to  seven  inches.  It 
lives  in  ponds  and  ditches,  and  is  often  seen  on  floating  logs.  It  ranges  from 
Nova  Scotia  to  Wisconsin,  southward  to  Georgia  and  Louisiana. 

170.  Box  Turtle.    Cistudo  Carolina  (Linnaeus). 

This  species  of  Turtle  has  the  power  of  enclosing  the  head  and  limbs 
within  the  shell ;  whence  the  name  Box  Turtle.  It  is  distributed  over  the 
northern  portion  of  the  United  States,  from  the  eastern  coast  to  the  Mississippi 
River. 

171.  Spotted  Turtle.    CJielopus  guttatns  (Schweigger). 

The  Spotted  Turtle  is  a  species  of  little  importance,  being  of  small  size. 
Its  name  is  derived  from  the  yellow  spots  on  the  upper  shell.  It  ranges  over 
the  New  England  States,  New  York,  and  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio. 

172.  Wood  Turtle;   Striated  Turtle.     Chelopus  insculptus  (Le 

Conte). 

The  markings  on  the  plates  of  the  upper  shell  of  this  turtle  are  quite  distinct 
and  have  the  appearance  of  sculpture.  It  is  found  from  Maine  to  New  York, 
and  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio. 


36  THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


173.  Blanding'S  Terrapin.    Emys  meleagris  (Shaw). 

A  rare  species  of  Turtle  and  little  is  known  of  its  habits.  The  specimen  in 
the  Aquarium  was  taken  in  Ohio.  It  is  found  in  the  New  England  States  west- 
ward to  Wisconsin. 

BATRACHIANS, 

174.  Newt;  Spotted  Triton.  Diemyctylus  viridescens  (Rafinesque). 
The  Newt  is  at  first  a  tadpole  and  does  not  become  perfect  in  form  until 

several  weeks  after  hatching.  The  Newt  inhabits  ponds  and  ditches  of  still 
water.    It  feeds  upon  water  insects  and  worms. 

If  5.  Mud-puppy.    Menobranchus  lateralis  (Say). 

The  gills  of  the  Mud-puppy  are  external,  in  the  form  of  fringed  tufts,  three 


on  each  side.    The  body  is  brown  with  dark  spots.    The  Mud-puppy  is  found 

in  the  Eastern  States,  the  Great  Lakes  and  tributaries. 

176.  Hellbender.  Cryptobranchus  alleghaniensis  (Harlan). 

The  Hellbender  has  a  broad  head  and  small  eyes ;  there  is  a  prominent 
fold  of  skin  along  the  sides  of  the  body.  It  is  found  in  New  York  State,  in  the 
Alleghany  River  and  the  tributaries  of  the  Ohio  River. 

177.  Common  Bull-frog.    Rana  catesbiana  (Shaw). 

This  species  is  the  largest  of  its  kind  that  inhabits  North  America.  It  feeds 
upon  insects,  small  fishes,  tadpoles  and  small  frogs.  The  bull-frog  is  found 
•over  the  greater  portion  of  the  United  States. 

178.  Green-frog:;    Spring-frog:.    Rana  clamata  (Daudin). 

The  Green  Frog  or  Spring  Frog  is  the  first  species  heard  in  the  spring. 
It  does  not  hunt  for  food  on  the  land.  This  frog  inhabits  swamps  and  marshes 
which  are  in  proximity  to  ponds  and  streams.  It  ranges  through  the  Eastera 
and  Central  States  northward  to  Canada. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


179.  Leopard  Frog.    Rana  virescens  (Kahn). 

A  very  widely  distributed  species,  it  ranges  from  Maine  west  to  the  Sierra 
Nevada  Mountains,  and  from  Canada  south  to  Central  America.  Its  usual 
color  is  bright  green,  with  irregular  dark  brown  or  black  spots,  and  olive  green 
blotches. 

CRUSTACEANS. 

180.  Lobster.    Homarus  americanus  (Edwards). 

The  American  Lobster  ranges  from  Delaware  to  Labrador,  it  is  most 
abundant  on  the  coast  of  Maine.  The  lobster  varies  greatly  in  color,  some  are 
yellowish  red  with  mottlings  of  green,  others  have  blue  mottlings.  A  lobster 
measuring  forty-two  inches  in  length  was  caught  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  in 
March  1897,  it  weighed  thirty  pounds. 

181.  Rock-crab.    Cancer  irroratus  (Say). 

This  species  is  often  found  hiding  under  stones  and  rocks  near  low  water 
mark.  It  attains  a  size  of  three  or  four  inches  across  the  shell.  The  Rock- 
crab  ranges  from  Labrador  to  South  Carolina. 

182.  Mud-crab.    Panopeus  depresstis  (Smith). 

A  small  crab,  and  rarely  attains  a  length  of  more  than  two  inches.  Its 
body  is  flattened.  The  large  claws  are  unequal  in  size.  This  species  is  found 
from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

183.  Green-crab.    Carcinns  granulatus  (Say). 

This  species  is  conspicuous,  because  of  its  bright  green  color  and  yellow 
spots.  It  is  found  under  the  stones  near  the  high  water  mark,  and  also  in  tidal 
pools.    The  Green-crab  ranges  from  Cape  Cod  south  probably  as  far  as  Florida. 

184.  Lady-crab;  Sand-crab.    Platyonichns  occellatus  (Latreille). 

This  is  a  very  handsome  crab.  Its  color  is  light  gray,  with  spots  formed 
by  smali  red  and  purple  specks.  The  Lady-crab  is  provided  with  swimming 
organs,  on  the  rear  part  of  the  body,  enabling  it  to  swim  quite  rapidly.  It  is 
found  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

185.  Blue-crab;  Edible-crab.    Callincctes  hastatus  (Ordway). 
The  Blue-crab,  like  the  Lady-crab,  has  swimming  organs  resembling  flat- 
tened legs.    It  can  be  easily  distinguished  from  all  the  other  species  in  these 
waters  by  the  sharp  spine  on  each  side  of  the  shell.    This  crab  inhabits  muddy 
bottoms.    It  ranges  from  Massachusetts  Bay  to  Florida. 

186.  Spider-crab.    Libinia  canalicnlata  (Say). 

This  is  a  curious  crab,  with  long  spider-like  legs.  It  inhabits  sandy  shores, 
but  more  commonly  makes  its  home  on  muddy  bottoms  in  which  it  hides.  It  is 
found  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

18T.  Small  Hermit  Crab.    Eupagurns  longicarpus  (Stimpson). 

An  interesting  little  crab,  living  in  an  empty  spiral  shell  of  some  of  the  gas- 
tropods or  snails,  which  it  seeks  for  the  protection  of  the  rear  portion  of  its  body 
which  is  soft.  When  it  has  outgrown  the  shell  the  crab  looks  up  a  larger  one, 
and  after  careful  examination  of  it,  inside  and  out,  if  suited,  It  leaves  the  one  it 


38 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


has  been  occupying  and  backs  into  the  larger  one.  In  case  of  danger  die  Her- 
mit-crab withdraws  its  entire  body  inside  the  shell,  using  the  large  claws  to 
close  the  aperture.    It  is  found  from  Massachusetts  Bay  to  South  Carolina. 

188.  Large  Hermit  Crab.    Eupagurus  pollicaris  (Stimpson). 

This  is  a  much  larger  species  than  E.  longicarpus.  It  has  shorter  and 
thicker  claws,  and  necessarily  occupies  larger  shells.  Its  habits  are  similar  to 
those  of  the  smaller  species.    It  ranges  from  Massachusetts  Bay  to  Florida. 

189.  Land  Hermit  Crab.    Cenobita  diogenes. 

The  Land  Hermit-Crab,  as  its  name  indicates,  inhabits  the  land ;  it  occu- 
pies some  shell  obtained  from  a  neighboring  beach.  It  visits  the  sea  to  moisten 
its  gills.  This  crab  feeds  upon  the  cocoanut  and  banana.  It  is  found  in  the 
West  India  Islands,  and  in  the  states  bordering  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

190.  Horseshoe  Crab;  King  Crab.   Limulus polyphemus  (Latreille). 

An  inhabitant  of  sandy  shores,  but  it  is  more  abundant  on  muddy  bottoms. 
It  burrows  just  beneath  the  surface  of  the  sand  or  mud,  It  is  found  from  Maine 
to  Florida. 

191.  Fiddler  Crab  ;  Soldier  Crab.    Gelasimus pugilator  (Latreille). 

This  species  of  Fiddler  Crab  is  found  upon  muddy  and  sandy  flats  and 
beaches.  It  ranges  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  The  Fiddler  Crab  excavates  a 
hole  for  a  burrow  above  the  tides. 

192.  Cray-fish;  Craw-fish.    Cambarus  affinis  (Erichson). 

This  is  the  largest  of  fresh-water  crustaceans.  It  is  found  in  many  of  the 
streams  of  the  United  States.  The  Cray-fishes  strongly  resemble  the  Lobster, 
to  which  they  are  closely  related. 

193.  Spiny  Lobster.    Palinurus  vulgaris. 

A  native  of  Bermuda.  It  is  highly  esteemed  for  food.  The  bright  colors  and 
mottlings,  with  the  long  slender  antennas  which  project  forward  from  the  head, 
and  the  curved  horns  over  the  eyes,  distinguish  this  species  from  the  common 
Lobster. 

194.  Sand  Shrimp.    Crangon  vulgaris  (Fabricus). 

This  species  of  shrimp  is  abundant  on  sandy  shores,  from  South  Carolina 
to  Labrador.  It  imitates  closely  in  color  the  sand  in  which  it  buries  itself.  In 
some  localities  it  is  used  for  food. 

195.  Silver  Shrimp.    My  sis  stenolepis  (Smith). 

It  is  found  on  muddy  shores  among  the  eel  grass.  It  is  sold  in  some  of  the 
markets  for  fish  bait ;  large  quantities  of  this  shrimp  are  used  in  the  Aquarium 
as  food  for  fishes. 

196.  Ivory  Barnacle.    Balanus  eburneus  (Gould). 

This  species  is  abundant  on  submerged  wood  work  and  on  the  piles  and 
timbers  of  the  wharves.  It  is  easily  distinguished  from  all  other  species  because 
of  its  smooth  white  shell. 

19T.  Goose  Barnacle.    Lepas  fascicularis  (Elis  and  Solander). 

The  Goose  Barnacle  adheres  to  floating  sea  weed,  pieces  of  wood,  and  to 
the  bottom  of  vessels,  by  a  fleshy  stem  which  is  about  the  length  of  the  shelly 
part.    It  lives  but  a  short  time  in  aquariums. 


4°  THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE. 


ANNELIDS. 

198*  Tube  Worm.    Cistenides  gouldii  (Verrill). 

This  is  a  very  interesting  worm  ;  it  constructs  a  conical,  slightly  curved 
tube  of  grains  of  sand  in  a  single  layer,  the  grains  being  held  together  by  a 
water  proof  cement,  a  secretion  of  the  tube-worm.  It  is  found  from  Cape  Cod 
to  New  Jersey, 

199.  Serpula.    Serpula  dianthus  (Verrill). 

This  worm  surrounds  itself  with  a  very  crooked  calcareous  tube  generally 
attached  to  shells  ;  it  lives .  in  colonies.  It  has  beautifully  colored,  delicate, 
feather-like  gills,  which  protrude  from  the  tube  ;  being  disturbed  it  immediately 
draws  its  gills  back  out  of  sight.    It  is  found  from  Cape  Cod  to  New  Jersey. 

200.  Sabella.    Sabella  microphthalma  (Verrill). 

An  annelid,  or  worm,  and  is  related  to  Serpula  ;  its  tube,  which  is  tough 
and  flexible,  is  constructed  of  fine  sand  and  other  substances,  glued  together 
with  the  special  secretions  of  the  animal.  The  branchiae  or  gills  of  the  Sabella 
resemble  those  of  the  Serpula.  It  is  found  from  Vineyard  Haven  to  New 
Jersey. 

MOLLUSKS. 

201.  Devil-fish.    Octopus  vulgaris. 

Its  body  has  the  form  of  a  round  bag,  its  head  is  small  with  two  large 
eyes,  it  has  eight  long  tapering  arms  joined  at  their  base  by  a  web ;  each  arm 
has  two  rows  of  sucking  discs.  The  octopus  uses  its  arms  for  climbing  and 
crawling,  and  in  catching  and  holding  its  prey.  It  feeds  upon  crabs  and  fisheL. 
The  aquarium  has  received  several  specimens  from  Bermuda,  but  they  only 
live  a  few  days  in  the  tanks. 

202.  Common  Squid.    Loligo  pealii  (Le  Sueur). 

This  species  attains  a  length  of  twelve  inches,  its  color  is  changeable. 
The  Squid  is  used  for  bait,  and  it  is  an  important  factor  in  the  food  supply  for 
many  of  our  larger  edible  fishes.  It  is  found  from  Massachusetts  to  South 
Carolina. 

203.  Oyster.    Ostrea  virginiana  (Lister). 

This  species  of  Oyster  is  found  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  to  Tampa 
Bay.  The  Oyster  grows  rapidly  in  localities  with  a  soft  mud  bottom,  where 
there  is  an  abundant  supply  of  food.  The  Star-fish  and  DriU  destroy  many 
oysters. 

204.  Quahog  ;  Hard  Shelled  Clam.    Venus  mercenaria  (Linne). 

The  Quahog  is  abundant  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  As  an  article  of  food 
it  ranks  next  to  the  Oyster  in  the  United  States,  and  it  is  also  extensively  used 
as  bait.  It  is  found  on  sandy  and  muddy  flats,  a  short  distance  beyond  low- 
water  mark. 

205.  Soft-Shelled  Clam  ;  Long-Clam.    Mya  arenaria  (Linne). 

It  buries  itself  beneath  the  sand  and  mud  in  permanent  burrows ;  its  long 
siphon-tubes  can  be  extended  a  foot  or  more.    On  the  coast  of  New  England 


222 

IfOLLUSKS. 


42  THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


large  quantities  of  this  species  are  salted  to  be  used  as  bait  in  cod-fish?*v  it 
is  found  from  Maine  to  South  Carolina. 

206.  Edible  Mussel.    Mytilus  edulis  (Linne). 

It  is  found  in  great  numbers  on  rocky  shores,  from  the  Arctic  Ocean  to 
North  Carolina.  It  attaches  itself  by  byssus  threads  to  timbers  and  rocks.  In 
New  York  large  quantities  of  this  mussel  are  pickled  to  be  used  as  food. 

20?.  Horse  Mussel.    Modiola  modiolus  (Turton). 

This  Mussel  lives  in  crevices  between  the  rocks  at  extreme  low-water, 
partly  buried  in  the  gravel  and  firmly  attached.  Like  the  Edible  Mussel  it  is 
devoured  by  several  species  of  fishes.  It  is  found  from  Greenland  to  New 
Jersey. 

208.  Razor -Shell.    Ensatella  americana  (Verrill). 

The  shell  is  long,  narrow  and  slightly  curved,  and  is  quite  smooth.  It  is 
found  on  sandy  bottoms,  from  Labrador  to  Florida.  It  burrows  in  the  sand 
from  two  to  three  feet. 

209.  Scallop.    Pec  ten  irradians  (Lamarck). 

The  shells  vary  in  color,  they  are  dark,  with  yellow,  reddish,  and  light  bands 
or  mottlings.  The  large  muscle  which  it  uses  to  open  and  close  its  shell,  is  the 
portion  used  for  food.  It  is  found  in  sheltered  places,  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida, 
and  on  the  northern  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

210.  Ship-worm.    Teredo  navalis  (Linne). 

Though  generally  known  as  Ship-worm  it  is  not  a  worm,  but  a  true  mol- 
lusk,  and  is  related  to  the  long-clam.  The  Teredo  excavates  or  bores  its  hole 
or  burrow  in  submerged  wood  for  its  protection.  It  does  great  damage  to 
ships,  piles  and  timbers  of  wharves.  This  species  is  abundar  t  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  of  the  United  States,  and  coasts  of  Europe. 

211.  Winkle.    Sycotypus  canaliculatus  (Gill). 

This  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  mollusks  of  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  the 
tropics.  This  species  is  easily  recognized  by  a  spiral  groove  running  around 
the  tops  of  the  whorls.  It  does  great  damage  to  the  oyster.  It  is  found  from 
Cape  Cod  to  Florida,  and  on  the  northern  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

212.  Pear-Conch.    Fulgur  carica  (Conrad). 

On  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  and  southward  it  reaches  a  very  large  size. 
This  species  is  recognized  by  the  tubercles  or  projections  on  the  angles  of  its 
whorls.  The  eggs  of  both  the  Winkle  and  the  Pear-Conch  are  discharged  in  a 
series  of  disk-shaped  yellowish  capsules  three-fourths  to  one  inch  in  diameter, 
which  are  united  on  the  edge  by  a  stout  flexible  stem ;  there  may  be  fifty  or 
seventy-five  capsules  in  a  series,  each  one  containing  fifty  or  sixty  eggs  or 
embryo  Winkles  or  Pear-Conchs.    It  is  found  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

213.  Natica.    Lunatia  lieros  (Adams). 

This  species  is  found  from  the  Gulf  of  Saint  Lawrence  to  Georgia.  The 
shell  is  nearly  round.  When  it  moves  the  white  soft  parts  are  spread  out  till 
they  nearly  conceal  the  shell.  The  foot  when  extended  is  large  and  flat  with 
thin  edges,  which  enables  the  animal  to  burrow  beneath  the  surface  of  the  sand, 
which  it  does  for  protection  or  in  search  of  food. 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


214.  Nassa.    Illynassa  obsoleta  (Stimpson). 

This  is  found  on  flats  and  muddy  bottoms  in  almost  countless  numbers 
from  the  Gulf  of  Saint  Lawrence  to  Florida.  It  is  a  scavenger,  and  may  be 
seen  gliding  along  the  sides  or  bottom  of  many  of  the  tanks  in  the  aquarium 
in  search  of  food. 

215.  Drill.   Urosalpinx  cinerca  (Stimpson). 

The  Drill  feeds  upon  oysters  and  other  bivalves  by  drilling  a  round  hole  in 
the  shells  with  the  sharp  hard  teeth  that  cover  its  tongue,  then  sucking  out  the 
contents.  It  is  abundant  in  Long  Island  Sound  and  on  the  coast  of  the  Middle 
States  bordering  on  the  Atlantic. 

216.  Boat-Shell.    Crepidula fornicator  (Lamarck). 

This  univalve  adheres  to  both  living  and  dead  bivalve  and  other  shells. 
The  shell  resembles  a  boat  with  a  rounded  bottom,  the  inside  is  half-covered  by 
a  flat  partition.    It  is  found  from  Massachusetts  to  Florida. 

21 7.  Jingle-Shell.    Anomia  globra  (Verrill). 

Its  shell  is  very  thin  and  delicate  in  appearance  and  of  a  beautiful  golden 
or  silver  hue.  It  gives  out  a  metallic  sound  when  blown  by  the  wind  along  a 
pebbly  beach. 

ASCIDIANS. 

218.  Sea-Squirt.    Molgula  manhattensis  (Verrill). 

It  is  found  adhering  to  the  underside  of  rocks,  on  piles,  and  sea  weeds.  Its 
form  is  rounded  with  two  short  tubes  on  the  upper  part  of  its  body.  The  color 
is  yellowish  or  light  olive  green.  When  it  is  pressed  with  the  fingers  the  ani- 
mal contracts  and  throws  out  of  its  tubes  small  jets  of  water,  hence  its  name, 

ECHINODERMS. 

219.  Sand  Dollar.    Echinar  admins  par via  (Gray). 

The  Sand-Dollar  is  from  an  inch  and  a  half  to  three  inches  across.  It 
moves  slowly  by  means  of  numerous  minute  spines  or  bristles,  which  the 
animal  can  extend  or  contract.    Its  range  is  from  Labrador  to  New  Jersey. 

220.  Star-fish.    Asterias  arenicola  (Stimpson). 

The  Star-fish  has  five  flexible  arms  or  rays  ;  it  is  abundant  on  rocky  and 
shelly  bottoms  ;  it  feeds  upon  oysters  and  mussels.  If  the  animal  is  torn  apart 
and  thrown  into  the  water,  each  arm  has  the  power  of  reproducing  all  parts,  and 
in  time  it  becomes  a  perfect  Star-fish,  It  is  found  from  Massachusetts  to 
Florida. 

221.  Brittle  Star  fish.    Ophiura  olivacea  (Lyman). 

It  is  found  among  rocks  and  eel  grass,  and  sometimes  on  sandy  shores. 
The  arms  of  this  Star-fish  radiate  from  a  well  defined  central  disk ;  they  are 
slender  and  somewhat  stiff.    It  is  found  from  Cape  Cod  to  North  Carolina. 

222.  Sea-urchin.    Arbacia  punctnlaia  (Gray). 

This  species  of  Sea-urchin  has  rather  stout  and  long  purple  spines  ;  a  part 
of  the  upper  surface  is  nearly  devoid  of  spines.  It  is  found  in  Long  Island 
Sound,  and  Vineyard  Sound  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 


44 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


POLYPS 

223.  Fringed  Sea- Anemone.      Metridium   marginatum  (Milne- 

Edwards). 

When  fully  distended  the  form  of  this  Anemone  is  very  graceful.  Its  ten- 
tacles are  fine  and  delicate,  and  cover  the  upper  disk  nearly  half  the  distance  to 
the  mouth.  The  colors  are  varied,  including  many  shades  of  brown  with 
mottlings  of  white,  orange,  salmon  and  flesh  color.  This  species  is  found  from 
Labrador  to  New  Jersey. 

224.  White-armed  Anemone.    Sagartia  leucolena  (Verrill). 

The  colors  are  white,  light  gray  and  flesh  color.  The  body  is  rarely  more 
than  one  half  inch  in  diameter ;  it  distends  itself  to  three  or  four  inches  in 
length,  and  the  tentacles  to  a  length  of  one  inch  or  more.  It  is  found  from 
Cape  Cod  to  North  Carolina. 

225.  Long-armed  Anemone.    Actinia  anguic -or -ma  (West). 

Its  body  is  short  and  the  diameter  rarely  more  than  three-fourths  of  an 
inch ;  the  tentacles  are  very  long  and  slender,  The  color  is  olive  green  with 
several  yellow  or  brown  stripes  extending  from  the  upper  to  the  lower  disk, 

226.  StOUt-armed  Anemone.     Tealia  crassicornis. 

This  is  the  largest  species  of  anemones  existing  on  this  coast,  specimens  of 
various  colors  and  mottlings  are  found  on  rocky  bottoms  in  some  localities  on 
the  south  coast  of  Long  Island.  It  is  easily  distinguished  by  its  short  and  stout 
tentacles. 

227.  Bermuda  Anemone.    Actinia  mesembryanthemum. 

A  very  handsome  species  of  various  colors ;  some  specimens  have  a  dark 
red  body  with  light  red  tentacles,  others  having  an  olive  green  body  and  salmon 
colored  tentacles.    It  is  abundant  about  the  Bermuda  Islands. 

228.  Northern  Coral.    Astrangia  dance  (Agassiz). 

This  coral  is  found  on  rocky  bottoms  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida,  and  in 
Long  Island  Sound  on  rocks,  pebbles  and  shells.  The  polyp  of  this  species 
can  extend  its  body  to  a  length  of  nearly  an  inch ;  it  is  generally  whitish,  the 
tentacles  covered  with  minute  warty  prominences.  It  secretes  the  corallum  at 
the  base  only. 

BALANCED  AQUARIA. 

The  illustration  on  page  45  represents  a  small  balanced  aquarium,  with 
fresh  water  plants  aud  animals.  To  keep  fish  alive  in  an  aquarium  there  must 
be  a  supply  of  oxygen.  It  is  probable  that  a  majority  of  the  people  who  keep 
in  the  house  a  few  gold  fish  in  a  globe  or  tank  provide  the  fish  with  air  by  chang- 
ing the  water,  but  the  air  in  the  water  is  soon  exhausted  and  the  fish  may  suffer 
or  die  before  the  water  is  again  changed.  In  a  balanced  jar  or  tank  the  water 
plants  with  the  aid  of  light  are  constantly  producing  oxygen,  thereby  providing 
the  animal  life  with  air  and  also  keeping  the  water  pure ;  the  animals  give  off 
carbonic  acid  gas,  which  the  vegetation  requires  for  its  growth.  It  is  well  to 
use  on  the  bottom  of  the  aquarium  fine  gravel  of  sufficient  depth  to  cover  the 
roots  of  the  plants  and  to  hold  them  in  place  ;  to  prevent  the  clusters  of  plants 
from  floating,  wind  narrow  strips  of  sheet  lead  loosely  around  the  lower  end  of 
the  stalks  The  best  plan  is  to  put  the  gravel,  plants  and  water  in  the  aquarium 
and  place  it  near  a  window  where  it  will  get  sufficient  light,  thus  starting  aera- 


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE  45 


tion  before  putting  in  any  animal  life.  Be  sure  to  have  plenty  of  plants  ;  do  not 
overstock  with  animals.  All  dead  matter,  both  animal  and  vegetable,  should 
be  removed  daily.  Quite  small  fish  will  thrive  best  and  will  be  less  destructive 
to  the  plants.  Newts,  tadpoles  and  a  few  small  snails,  as  for  instance  the 
Physse  and  Planorbis,  are  interesting.    The  newt,  a  comic  acrobat,  is  an  amus- 


ing little  animal.  The  five-spined  stickleback,  Eucalia  inconstans,  is  a  very  in- 
teresting little  fish  ;  it  is  one  of  the  nest  builders.  Even  if  you  do  not  meet  with 
entire  success  at  first,  if  you  persist  you  will  be  well  repaid,  for  a  balanced 
aquarium  is  both  beautiful  and  instructive. 

31a.    Green  Moray.    Lycodontis  funebris  (Ranzani). 

This  species  of  Moray  is  known  to  reach  a  length  of  twelve  to  fifteen  feet 
and  probably  more ;  it  is  extremely  ferocious  and  when  caught  fights  viciously, 
biting  anything  within  reach.  The  teeth  are  situated  along  the  edge  of  the 
upper  and  lower  jaws,  also  on  the  front  of  the  vomer  or  roof  of  the  mouth ;  the 


teeth  of  the  Moray  are  very  sharp  and  incline  backward  toward  the  throat. 
Its  breathing  is  peculiar,  opening  the  mouth  quite  wide  taking  in  a  quantity 
of  water  which  distends  the  throat  and  cheeks;  as  the  mouth  closes  and  the 
throat  and  cheeks  are  contracted  the  water  is  forced  through  the  gill  openings 
which  are  nearly  round,  flexible  and  small.  The  flesh  of  the  Green  Moray  is 
said  to  be  of  excellent  flavor  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  epicures.  It  is  found 
in  the  tropical  and  subtropical  waters  of  America  on  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
coae»s. 

Ti< e  Green  Moray  is  quite  plentiful  about  rocks  and  coral  reefs. 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Albino  Catfish   n 

Amber  Fish   18 

American  Sole   33 

Angel  Fish   30 

Angler                                               . .  34 

Atlantic  Salmon   14 

Balanced  Aquaria                                ..  4  + 

Banded  Pickerel   16 

Banded  Pilot   18 

Banded  Larimus   28 

Barndoor  Skate   9 

Bermuda  Anemone   44 

Bermuda  Chub   28 

Black-banded  Sunfish   22 

Blackfish   29 

Blandings  Terrapin   36 

Bluefish    20 

Blue  Parrotfish   29 

Blue  Crab    37 

Blunt  Nosed  Shiner   20 

Boat,  Shell   43 

Box  Turtle   35 

Brittle  Starfish   43 

Brook  Sucker   n 

Brook  Trout   16 

Brook  Stickel back   17 

Brown  Trout   15 

Bullhead   11 

Burbot   33 

Butterfish   20 

Calico  Bass   20 

Carp   11 

Chub   12 

Chub  Sucker   11 

Chain  Pickerel   16 

Climbing  Perch.    34 

Cod    32 

Common  Grunt   26 

Common  Killifish   17 

Common  Skate   9 

Common  Sting  Ray   9 

Common  Sturgeon   9 

Common  Spotted  Moray   13 

Common  vShad    13 

Common  Sunfish   22 

Common  Scup    27 

Common  Squid   40 

Common  Bull-frog   36 

Common  Weakfish   28 

Coney    25 

Conger  Eel   13 

Cowfish   31 

Crayfish   38 

Crevalle   20 

Cunner   29 

Devilfish   40 

Diamond-back  Terrapin   35 

Drill   43 

Drum   28 

Edible  Mussel   42 

Fiddler  Crab                                     ...  38 

Filefish.    30 

Flatfish   33 

Fluke    33 

Four  Eyed    30 

Four-Spined  Stickleback   18 

Fresh  Water  Eel   12 

Fresh  Water  Killifish    17 

Fringed  Sea  Anemone   44 

Geographical  Terrapin   35 

Glut  Herring   13 

Golden  Ide   34 

Goldfish    12 

Gold  Tench   34 

Goose  Barnacle   38 


Gourami  

Gray  Snapper  

Green  Moray  

Green-crab  

Green  Frog  

Green  Parrotfish  

Green  Turtle  

Grouper  

Hake  

Harbor  Seal  

Hard-Tail  

Hawksbill  Turtle  

Hellbender  

Hickory  Shad  

Hogfish  

Horned  Dogfish  

Horse  Mussel  

Horseshoe  Crab  

Hybrid  Trout  

Ivory  Barnacle  

Jingle-Shell  

Killifish  

Kingfish  

Labrador  Whitefish  

Lady-Crab  

Lady-Fish  

Lake  Trout  

Lamprey  

Land  Hermit  Crab  

Land-Locked  Salmon  

Large  Hermit  Crab  

Large-Mouthed  Black  Bass 

Leather  Carp  

Leopard  Frog  

Lobster  

Long-Armed  Anemone 

Long-Eared  Sunfish  

Long-Nosed  Gar  

Lumpfish  

Margate  Fish  

Mascalonge  

Menhaden  

Millers  Thumb  

Mirror  Carp  

Mitchills  Sculpin  

Moonfish  

Mud-Crab  

Mudfish  

Mud  Minnow  

Mud  puppy  

Mud  Sunfish  

Musk  Turtle  

Mutton-fish    

Nassa  

Natica  —  . 

Newt  

Nine-spined  Stickleback 

Northern  Coral  

Ouananiche  

Orange  Filefish  

Oyster  

Pear  Conch  

Pearl  Roach  

Pike   : 

Pike  Perch  

Pipefish   

Pirate  Perch  

Pond  Turtle   

Princess  Rockfish  

Puffer  

Quahog  • 

Quinnat  Salmon  

Rabbit  Fish   

Rainbow  Trout  

Razor-Shell  


THE  NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM  GUIDE 


47 


PAGE 

Red  Drum   28 

Redfin   12 

Red  Snapper   26 

Red  Winged  Sea  Robin   32 

Remora   32 

Roach   12 

Rock  Bass   22 

Rock  Crab   37 

Rockfish   25 

Round  Pompano   20 

Round  Whitefish   13 

Sabella   40 

Sand  Doller   43 

Sand  Shark   8 

Sand  Shrimp   38 

Scallop   42 

Sculpin   31 

Sea  Bass     25 

Sea-horse   18 

Sea  Raven   31 

Sea  Robin   32 

Sea  Squirt   43 

Sea  Urchin   43 

Sergeant  Major   29 

Serpula   40 

Sheepshead    .    27 

Shehpshead  Lebia   17 

Ship-worm   42 

Short  Nosed  Sturgeon   10 

Silver  Bream   28 

Silver  Perch   28 

Silver  Shrimp   38 

Silverside     18 

Slider  Terrapin   35 

Small  Hermit  Crab   37 

Small  Mouthed  Black  Bass   23 

Smelt   16 

Smooth  Dogfish   8 

Snapping  Turtle   35 

Soft  Shelled  Clam   40 


Soft  Shell  Turtle   35 

Spade-fish   30 

Spider  Crab    37 

Spiny  Box  Fish   31 

Spiny  Lobster   38 

Spot   28 

Spot  Snapper    26 

Spotted  Catfish   10 

.Spotted  Codling   33 

Spotted  Hind   25 

Spotted  Turtle   3e 

Squirrel-Fish   "18 

Star-Fish   43 

Steelhead   15 

Stout- Armed  Anemone   44 

Striped  Bass   24 

Striped  Grunt     26 

Striped  Mullet   18 

Striped  Sea  Robin   32 

Surgeon-Fish    30 

Swiss  Lake  Trout   15 

Tench   34 

Thread  fish   20 

Toad-Fish   31 

Tom-Cod   32 

Trigger-Fish   30 

Trunk-Fish   31 

Tube-worm   40 

Two-Spined  Stickleback   i7 

West  Indian  Seal   7 

White-Armed  Anemone   44 

White  Cat   10 

White  Perch    24 

Whiting   32 

White  Whale   6 

Winkle   42 

Wood  Turtle   35 

Yellow  Grunt   26 

Yellow  Perch   24 

Yellow-Tail   26 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  WORLD'S  FISHERIES. 


THE  FISHING  GAZETTE. 

(ESTABLISHED  1884  ) 

The  Official  Organ  and  recognized  authority  for  everything  pertaining  to 
the  Fishing  Industry.  It  circulates  throughout  the  world.  Published  weekly 
in  the  interests  of  the  Producer,  Distributor  a?id  Consumer  of  Fresh  and 
Salt  Water  Fish,  Shell  Fish,  Salt,  Smoked,  Pickled  and  Dried  Fish,  Canned 
Fish,  Oysters,  Clams,  Lobsters,  etc.,  and  the  auxiliary  branches  of  the  trade. 

A  SPECIAL  FEATURE.— Daily  quotations  of  the  Fish  and  Oyster 
markets  of  this  country,  and  prevailing  conditions  of  foreign  markets  through 
correspondence. 

A  valuable  mediutn  for  the  Advertiser  wishing  to  reach  the  trade. 

Price  of  subscription,  payable  in  advance:  To  United  States  and  Canada,  $1.00  per 
year,  postpaid;  To  Foreign  Countries,  $2.00  per  year,  postpaid. 

SEND  FOR  SAMPLE  COPY. 

Address:  THE    FISHING  GAZETTE, 
Mail  &  Express  Building,     =     =     203  Broadway,  New  York. 

The  only  weekly  publication  in  the  world  devoted  exclusively  ta  the  Commercial  Fisheries. 


AVEWY 
CLASSICS 

i 


